Weng’s lift on Sanchez
ALEXIS KEEN TO STAY
ARSENE WENGER has given Arsenal fans a major boost by revealing he expects Alexis Sanchez to sign a lucrative new deal this summer.
The Gunners boss claims the Chilean superstar wants to stay at the Emirates beyond 2018 and haggling over his salary is the only thing holding things up.
Sanchez, 28, is on £130,000 a week but wants more than £300,000.
Wenger said at the weekend Sanchez will not be sold in the summer and will stay for the final year of his contract.
But now he is confident his main man will remain at Arsenal longer.
He said: “I think he will sign and stay here. He is happy here. His desire is as well to stay. That is what I deeply believe.
“The disagreements are more contractual, not on the desire. Both parties have the desire to find an agreement, so I think it will happen.”
Wenger reiterated he will never sell Sanchez as he does not want to make his rivals stronger.
He said: “The problem you have to analyse is, ‘Can you find better? For ® what kind of money?’. I don’t think you would sell him to any Premier League club, that is for sure. “We want to be as strong as we can, not strengthen the other team.” Wenger (below) was in high spirits ahead of tonight’s clash with Leicester after victory in the FA Cup semi-final over Manchester City on Sunday. His change to 3-4-3 has paid off with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain excelling in the right wing-back slot, although he is a doubt tonight with a foot problem. Wenger added: “He has done very well. In the future I see him being a successful central midfielder. “But at the moment I feel this role has suited him. He can use his power and it suits him as he is facing the game when he gets the ball.” Wenger has challenged his side to win all seven remaining league games to sneak a Champions League spot. Arsenal are seven points behind Manchester City and nine behind Liverpool but have one game in hand on the former and two on the latter.