Arsenal are preparing to give Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez massive new contracts in an attempt to keep the duo. Arsenal have missed out on the Champions League for the first time since the late 90s, and the club are afraid it will lose their top stars without the draw of the competition.
The attackers will reportedly make between £250,000 and £280,000 a week to stay; making them the highest-paid players in Arsenal history. Although both players were important to Arsenal, Sanchez is clearly the player drawing more interest from other teams. Sanchez tallied 24 goals and 10 assists during the season. Meanwhile, Ozil managed eight goals and nine assists.
Alexis Sanchez Key Stats 2016-17:
- 24 goals, 10 assists in 38 appearances
- 43.24 passes per match
- 2.1 key passes per match
- 3.4 shots per match
A lot of criticism was once again thrown Ozil’s way as the playmaker only found his best form at the tail end of the Premier League season. The German’s agent labelled the playmaker as a scapegoat for Arsenal supporters.
Mesut Ozil Key Stats 2016-17:
- 8 goals, 9 assists in 33 appearances
- 63.94 passes per match
- 3 key passes per match
- 1.2 shots per match
While Arsenal hope to keep two of their top stars, reports indicate that the club’s board want manager Arsene Wenger to be more precise in the transfer market. Wenger is set for a new two-year contract, and the Gunners’ board want the Frenchman to sign players early this summer.
Rumoured Arsenal transfer targets:
- Romelu Lukaku
- Alexandre Lacazette
- Riyad Mahrez
- Thomas Lemar
- Virgil van Dijk
Wenger is expected to have £100 million at his disposal to improve his squad. While Arsenal will be trying to sign new players to push them toward the Premier League title, Wojciech Szczesny, David Ospina, Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere have all been told they can leave the Emirates.
Szczesny is coming off of an outstanding season with Serie A side Roma, who finished second in the Italian league. The Polish international looks to be heading to Napoli, however, where he will takeover for Pepe Reina. The Napoli No. 1 looks likely to return to England to hook up with Rafa Benitez at Newcastle.
Wenger is coming off of his seventh FA Cup trophy success as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley.