Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reassured the club’s supporters that there is no reason for concern over the futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Both players have less than two years remaining on their current deals, while talks have been on-going since last September with little progress seemingly being made.
As noted by The Evening Standard, Ozil joined the Gunners in a deal worth £42.5m in 2013 while Sanchez followed for £31.7m in 2014, and both have been an important part of the squad since.
While their priority will be aiming for silverware this season, Wenger has remained resolute on the matter and is confident that the deals will be done at the right time.
“No. We keep that internally and we always make progress, but it’s not always a quick process. They still have two years left on their contract and there is no urgency as well. There is no reason for Arsenal fans to be concerned.
“Will we have more talks after the transfer window has closed? Yes. At the moment we have priorities which are a bit different.
“Most of the time contract extensions are done outside the transfer window because it gives you a bit more time and focus on that.”
When pressed on if he was confident that they will agree terms, Wenger ‘unconvincingly’ replied: “I think so,” according to The Standard.
It’s a crucial year for the Gunners as not only will they be under pressure to build on their second-place finish and end their long wait for a Premier League title, it could have a knock-on effect for their top stars who might consider their futures if the season ends in more disappointment.
In turn, Wenger will be hopeful of bolstering his squad between now and the end of the transfer window, while Ozil and Sanchez signing new deals during the course of the campaign would be a huge boost for all concerned.