The Sunday Supplement panel have questioned what options Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have outside of the club as contract talks rumble on.
Both players will see their current deals at the Emirates expire in 2018, with Arsenal coming under increasing pressure to ensure that they commit their long-term futures to the club.
With plenty of speculation about how much the duo are demanding, the Sunday Supplement panel have looked at it from a different angle and argued that ultimately holding the Gunners to ransom could backfire on Sanchez and Ozil.
“One of Arsenal’s main cards would to be ask Sanchez and Ozil where they are going to go,” The Daily Telegraph’s Sam Wallace argued, as noted by Sky Sports.
“If Arsenal are smart, they may just use that pressure against them. Arsenal have got a good thing going, Ozil and Sanchez are their stars, they’ve both played and been sold by the two big clubs in Spain so where else are they going to go?”
That theory was echoed by The Sunday Mirror’s Andy Dunn who also questioned how many clubs could really afford the £300,000-a-week wages that the pair are reportedly demanding.
“If we assume Sanchez will not go to China, which of the big clubs are going to offer him £300,000-a-week. Chelsea possibly?
“There are only four or five clubs in Europe who could pay Sanchez and Ozil that sort of money. So I don’t think their options are going to be as plentiful as many imagine.”
It’s an interesting counter-argument to those that believe Arsenal should simply pay Sanchez and Ozil what they want and just get deals in place.
Nevertheless, it’s also a risky one. Arsene Wenger can’t afford to lose either player as they have established themselves as key pieces in his squad now and by playing such a dangerous game, he could end up with both leaving and Arsenal robbed of their two biggest stars.