Players running down their contracts will become the norm in years to come due to skyrocketing transfer fees, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have both entered the final year of their deals, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs could also leave Arsenal for free in 12 months’ time.
Wenger tried to see the positive side, saying it could be an “ideal situation” for the club as the players would be motivated to perform to impress potential suitors.
“I think in the future, you will see it more and more. Why? Because the transfers are so high, even for normal players,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“You will see more and more players going into the final year of the contract because no club will want to pay the amount demanded… in the next 10 years, it will become usual.
“I think the performance on the day does not depend on the length of the contract, if that was true we would sign everyone for 20 years and be happy.”
Sanchez, who was Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League with 24 goals last season, has been linked with a move to Paris St Germain in the French media, but Wenger was adamant he would stay at the Emirates Stadium.
“Do I think he will stay? Yes, of course. How many times did I tell you that?,” the Frenchman added.
“One day, he will go and Arsenal will go on. We will all go one day and Arsenal, hopefully, will go on.”
Arsenal kick off their league campaign against Leicester City on Aug. 11.