Arsenal issue ‘sign up or we'll sell you’ ultimatum

Arsenal have unveiled a new transfer policy in a bid to stop players running down their contracts.

The Gunners are ready to sell any player who goes into the last two years of his contract after seeing the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere leave without receiving a fee.

Managing director Vinai Venkatesham says the club must do more to avoid those situations in the future, and has given a clear ultimatum to players with two years left on their deals that they either renew or they will be sold.

That means a busy summer of transfer negotiations with eight players having two years remaining on their current deals including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Laurent Koscielny.

“When we are selling players we need to maximise the funds we get to reinvest in the team,” Venkatesham said.

“We need to be really disciplined when we are dealing with senior players who are not towards the end of their careers.

“So that means we have to start making the difficult decisions when they have two years left on the contracts. We’re either going to renew those contracts or we’re going to be selling them.

“We’re going to have to be brave in those decisions because we can’t be in a situation where we’re allowing players to walk out of the door for free unless they are coming towards the end of their careers.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal supporters have hit out at UEFA after it was confirmed that Mkhitaryan will miss the Europa League final due to concerns for his safety.

Armenia captain Mkhitaryan had been assured by UEFA that he would be safe during his stay in neighbouring Azerbaijan but Arsenal have concluded it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the rest of the squad to have him on the trip.

There are political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed NagornoKarabakh region.

Arsenal fans were left seriously bemused by the announcement Mkhitaryan was to be left out and many called on his teammates to win the trophy on his behalf.