Negotiations over new deals for Arsenal duo Sanchez and Ozil have dragged on for some time.
Arsenal stars Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are said to be demanding wages of £250,000 a week in their next round of contract talks, according to a report in The Times.
The Gunners have been trying to get the duo to sign new contracts for quite some time in what has been a period of protracted negotiations.
The Times reports that the figure the players are demanding is £70,000 higher than in initial contract negotiations a year ago – which could now cost them £36 million.
Ozil currently earns £140,000 per week while Sanchez is on £130,000 per week with their current deals set to expire in 2018.
The report also lists a number of factors that have led to negotiations reaching this point, which includes the time left on, more money now in the Premier League thanks to the television deal and the declining value of the pound since the UK’s referendum on the European Union.
It does seem that Arsenal are going to have to offer a little more than their opening gambit to persuade the players to come to the table, although one might doubt if they are going to go as high as the players demand. The club would surely hope for a compromise.
These are two of Arsenal’s most talented footballers and the club will not want to let either of them go, and nor will they want any uncertainty in the background to disrupt what has turned into a very positive start to the season for the club who are now just two points off the pace in the Premier League.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
