Arsene Wenger has claimed losing Alexis Sanchez for nothing next summer wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe for Arsenal.
The Chilean has yet to sign a new deal to remain at the Emirates beyond the end of the current season and has been linked with a move away, with several top European clubs reportedly keen to sign him.
Despite Wenger previously stating that Sanchez will be a part of his plans this season, the worry for Arsenal is that they could lose him for nothing next summer if a new deal cannot be agreed, and as days go by, it increases speculation that this could seriously become a possibility.
Several reports in past months have speculated how much Sanchez is demanding to remain at Arsenal, from £220,000 to £400,000 (depending on what you read), and the Chilean is arguably a firm fan favourite and the club’s talisman. So keeping him, in many peoples view, is key.
However, Wenger reckons it could cost more to sign and pay a replacement for Sanchez than the £50million Manchester City would love to spend on the 28-year-old
Should the Gunners give Sanchez £400,000-a-week to stay on then the club would also be committing to more than £50million in wages. This is why Wenger believes it is worth keeping Sanchez, even if just for one more season.
“We have to make a balance between efficiency on the field and financial interest. Most of the time if you can find a good compromise, it’s better.
“I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.
“It is a sacrifice that you have to calculate how much it costs.
“If you sell the player and buy somebody, you spend maybe more than you would otherwise lose.
“And if you extend the contract it costs you maybe more than you lose when you keep the player for the final year of their deal.
“So you have to consider the length of the contract that the players want.
“So taking all that into consideration, the financial sacrifice is not as heavy as it looks.”
Wenger does have a point to some degree. Not only about the financial terms to the possible deal, but every other player in the club would want more to play for the club. In saying that, football is becoming more and more about money than the actual game, and with Sanchez being the club’s most high-profile player, can they not afford to give him what he wants?
Progress needs to be made, with or without Sanchez. Personally, I would love for him to remain at the club, but if he isn’t happy then he needs to go this summer. The longer it is waited out the less money we will recoup from his sale. Letting him go on a free does not make a lot of sense to me. If we can get enough money to recruit a replacement then why not?
