Wenger: Stars could leave us

– Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded yesterday he may have no option but to sell star players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Oezil in the January transfer window.

The pair are both out of contract at the end of the season and are yet to agree new deals.

As things stand, they will be able to leave the Emirates Stadium for free, meaning January will be Arsenal’s last opportunity to cash in on their two most high-profile players.

“It is possible,” Wenger told a press conference ahead of his side’s trip to Watford tomorrow. “Once you’re in our kind of situation, we have envisaged every solution, yes.”

Asked if Arsenal had set a deadline for contract negotiations with the pair to conclude, Wenger replied: “No, not at the moment.”

Chilean forward Sanchez, 28, joined Arsenal from Barcelona in July 2014, a year after 28-year-old German playmaker Oezil’s arrival from Real Madrid.

The signings electrified Arsenal’s fan base, but for all their quality, the duo have thus far been unable to end the club’s 14-year wait for the Premier League title.

Sanchez has been linked with a number of major clubs, among them Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Oezil, meanwhile, is reported to have attracted interest from Manchester United, who are managed by his former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

Earlier this week, Oezil’s agent Erkut Sogut indicated that talks with Arsenal were progressing positively.

“That’s my yes,” said Wenger.

“I always said the fact that we didn’t find an agreement last year doesn’t mean the players will necessarily leave. Both players look happy here and overall I hope the situation can be turned around.” –

London

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