Sanchez wants to stay at Arsenal: Wenger
ALEXIS Sanchez wants to stay at Arsenal despite speculation that he is disillusioned by the club's failure to challenge for the Premier League title, manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday.
Reports in British media say contract talks have been put on hold, but Wenger insists Sanchez, who has a year and a half left on his deal, will be at the club next season.
"Basically, he (Sanchez) wants to stay at the club and it's down to finding an agreement with his agent," Wenger told reporters yesterday. "The players first have to see if they are happy at the club, then they have to find an agreement."
Arsenal, fifth in the Premier League, are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification and the 28-year-old Sanchez has been linked with a number of other clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris St Germain.
Wenger himself is out of contract at the end of the season, but once again refused to clarify his future as he focussed on Monday's away game at Crystal Palace.
The Frenchman did, however, defend midfielder Mesut Ozil — another player whose future is the subject of uncertainty — saying Arsenal's crush ing Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich had hurt the player.
"(Ozil) is very ambitious. He wants to win the Champions League. We went out in such an emphatic way, it was difficult to take for everybody," Wenger said.
"He cares and people often reproach him because of his style of play, but he cares much more than people think he does."
Ozil has been criticised for a series of anonymous displays in recent months but impressed in Wednesday's 3-0 win over West Ham United — Arsenal's second victory in seven league games.
Arsenal are four points behind fourthplaced Manchester City, having played a game less, and six points behind third-placed Liverpool who have
played two games more.
"We are in a position that is not comfortable. It is not where we want to be. We know what we need to do," Wenger said.
"The line of conduct is very clear. We had a hiccup in recent weeks, what is important is to move on."
Meanwhile, Liverpool winger Sadio Mane requires knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season, manager Juergen Klopp said yesterday.
“Pretty sure Mane needs surgery and then it is season over. Impossible that he will play again this season,” Klopp told a news conference.
Senega i nte rnat i on a l Mane has scored 13 Pre m i e r League l goals this season but suffered the knee injury during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Everton last weekend. Klopp also said midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are doubtful for Saturday’s league visit to Stoke City while English duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana will both definitely miss the game. To t t e n h am striker Harry Kane could start against Watford today after recovering faster than expected from an ankle injury, said manager Ma u r i c i o Pochett ino, who may though have to deploy his thi rd - choi c e goalkeeper. The return of Kane, who has missed Spurs’ last three matches, will buoy their distant hopes of making up the seven-point gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea in the title run-in. “Harry’s had a few sessions before and today he was involved with the team,” Pochettino said yesterday, the eve of the clash at White Hart Lane. “And we’ll see tomorrow (today) whether he will start the game or be on the bench. But it’s good news that he’s ready. He feels good for his recovery.
“It’s very good news for him and for us. He’s an important player for us and for him to be available for us is great.”
Kane has hit 19 league goals this season as Spurs emerged as the main challengers to Chelsea. They coped admirably in his absence but Pochettino called the England international “a special player, he tries to push himself a lot”. — AFP-Reuters.