Arsene Wenger Suggests He'd Rather Star Duo Leave on Free Transfers Ahead of Being Sold to Rivals

​Arsene Wenger has baffingly suggested that he would rather allow Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to leave on free transfers than sell his prized Arsenal duo.
Sanchez and Ozil's future at the Emirates stadium has been the subject of much speculation in recent months after the pair entered the final 18 months of their current deals.

Chelsea were linked with a potential move for Sanchez on Thursday morning, while rumours of a possible return to Real Madrid for Ozil have circulated in recent days, as Arsenal attempt to keep the attacking duo out of the clutches of interested parties.

Despite insisting that the club were doing all they could to extend their stays in North London, however, Wenger claimed that he would much prefer to see the striker and playmaker leave the club for nothing than be forced to cash in on either or both of his stars.

He told the ​Daily Mirror: "You’re always asked the same things, but that doesn’t quicken negotiations, the decision process.

“I’m not the only one who can decide. In this case it’s between two parties. On my side, the best position is to negotiate. These players will stay for at least 18 months. Negotiations are private. We don’t always need to explain.

“No matter what happens they will stay 18 months, and hopefully much longer.”

Sanchez and Ozil are both believed to be holding out for vast increases in their salaries to remain at Arsenal, with the press speculating that the Chile and Germany internationals want parity with Manchester United star Paul Pogba's £300,000-a-week wages.

Arsenal have a tight wage structure in place under Wenger, with no first team player said to be earning over £150,000-a-week. 

The club are said to not be entertaining the thought of offering either player more than £200,000-a-week, while Wenger suggested that Sanchez should take other considerations - apart from earning vast sums of money - into account over whether he should stay with his current employers.

The Frenchman also added that, in spite of Gunners fans remaining fearful over the future of the pair, that there were still 18 months until Sanchez and Ozil would theoretically leave, and said he expected them to eventually put pen to paper on fresh terms.

He said: “Eighteen months is quite long in football you know. They have 18 months contract and are completely committed and will do well as long as they are here. Beyond that we will try to extend their contract."