Arsenal not held contract negotiations for months, star preparing for exit

Arsenal face a stern test in the 12 months ahead as they battle to keep hold of some key-players who are edging towards the end of their deals.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold to Liverpool on Deadline Day and Alexis Sanchez saw a move to Manchester City fall through because the Gunners couldn’t land a replacement, though the Chilean is likely to move for nothing at the end of his contract next summer.

Arsenal also have Mesut Ozil in the final 12 months of his deal and German outlet SportBild state Arsene Wenger has not held negotiations with the World Cup winner since February, with talks put on-hold due to uncertainty on the manager’s future.

The French boss signed a two-year extension at the end of the season but the club are yet to move to negotiate a new deal for Ozil, with The Sun adding the 28-year-old is due to leave the North London giants for nothing at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

Ozil is free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with sides outside of England as early as January, which raises the pressure on Arsenal heading into the final months of the calendar year.