Monday 11 November 2019 13:04, UK
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are reportedly in contract negotiations at Arsenal - but what options are open to pair should they decide to leave the Emirates?
That was the topic of conversation on the Sunday Supplement, where the futures of the Gunners' star attacking duo was examined.
With the contracts of Ozil and Sanchez set to expire in 2018, Arsenal have just six months to reach an agreement over their futures before they enter their final year - or face the prospect of losing either player on a free.
While the notion of losing Ozil or Sanchez gives weight to their respective negotiations, Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph believes holding Arsenal to ransom over a new big-money deal could play against them.
"What cards do Arsenal hold?" Wallace said. "In any sort of negotiation you've got to play your hand as well as you possibly can.
"One of Arsenal's main cards would to be ask Sanchez and Ozil where they are going to go.
"Arsenal fans pay the top whack, they are the most expensive team to watch. Arsenal fans understandably love these two guys so their agents have to be careful.
"While I understand you've got to get the best deal for your client, when demands become so absurd that you are holding a club to ransom, things can quickly swing against you.
"If Arsenal are smart, they may just use that pressure against them. Arsenal have got a good thing going, Ozil and Sanchez are their stars, they've both played and been sold by the two big clubs in Spain so where else are they going to go?"
Andy Dunn of the Sunday Mirror acknowledged the significance of Arsenal potentially losing Ozil or Sanchez but echoed Wallace's point, questioning which clubs were viable alternatives for the pair.
"Ozil and Sanchez are great players and if Arsenal lost either of them it would be an equal loss," Dunn said.
"Some people have suggested it would be better to lose Ozil over Sanchez but I don't agree with that - they are both of equal importance.
"It's worth bearing in mind there has to be clubs willing to offer the type of money that is being suggested.
"If we assume Sanchez will not go to China, which of the big clubs are going to offer him £300,000-a-week. Chelsea possibly?
"There are only four or five clubs in Europe who could pay Sanchez and Ozil that sort of money. So I don't think their options are going to be as plentiful as many imagine."
