Mesut Ozil (left) talks to Arsene Wenger after joining Arsenal from Real Madrid in September 2013
LONDON, United Kingdom, March 9 – Arsenal are facing a mass exodus of their top stars this summer as problems mount for manager Arsene Wenger.
Star midfielder Mesut Ozil has been offered a new deal worth more than Sh24.9m (£200,000) a week but there are fears he will reject it.
Ozil, whose current deal expires at the end of next season, is stalling, although the club are still hopeful of agreeing an extension. But as is it stands the Gunners will listen to offers for the German this summer to avoid losing him for nothing next year.
And in a further blow, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has just 15 months left on his existing deal, is the latest first-team star to seriously consider his Gunners future ahead of next season.
In addition; the club are yet to open talks with Jack Wilshere – who is on loan at Bournemouth – over a new contract despite the fact he enters the final 12 months of his contract this summer.
The club are already resigned to losing Alexis Sanchez, with the Chilean refusing to sign a new deal worth Sh22.4m (£180,000) a week.
Lucas Perez is also ready to quit the club over his frustration at a lack of regular football since joining from Deportivo La Coruna in August, while cup goalkeeper David Ospina is also eager for regular football.
Oxlade-Chamberlain could also leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, with the club still to offer the England international a fresh deal, meaning he could be available at a cheaper price.
Despite Tuesday’s humiliating 5-1 loss against Bayern Munich, the 23-year-old impressed in a central midfield role.
But news of his uncertain future will certainly alert the Premier League’s elite clubs, who are all likely to be interested, particularly given his homegrown status.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is known to be a fan of Oxlade-Chamberlain, and adding the former Southampton man to his wealth of attacking talent would be an intriguing proposition for the Portuguese.
Pep Guardiola considered a swoop for the Arsenal star last season and will be interested again this summer, while the fact Oxlade-Chamberlain has a boot deal with Nike would provide Manchester City valuable marketing synergy – much like adidas’ connections with Paul Pogba and United.
Liverpool, it is understood, are also watching developments regarding Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract with a view to a summer switch.
Like Oxlade-Chamberlain, midfielder Wilshere is keeping his options open with the club still to approach him over a deal extension.
Wenger insisted that talks over a deal for Wilshere would commence in February, but the midfielder is still not heard from the club.
Sportsmail revealed on Monday how Sanchez had already decided to seek a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer with his relationship with Wenger and his team-mates deteriorating.
Paris Saint Germain and Juventus are leading the chase for the Chilean, who will not be allowed to join a rival Premier League club, despite interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.
And as if Wenger did not have enough to deal with, the Gunners boss is now fighting to contain a flu outbreak in his squad.
Ozil was struck down with the illness last week which caused him to miss the defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.
But now Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck have both been affected by the virus; the latter having to withdraw from Tuesday’s embarrassing loss just before kick-off.
-By Daily Mail-
