Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gives his thoughts on players' contract extension

Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal that the situation can get "delicate" in terms of contract negotiations if players have only one year left on their deal. The Frenchman suggested that ideally he wants the Gunners to avoid such a situation, but suggested that his side can afford to keep a player at the Emirates even if he enters the final year of his contract.

The north London club have star duo Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, who are yet to extend their stay beyond 2018. After the end of the current campaign, the former La Liga playmaker and forward will be heading into their last year, if they fail to pen down a new deal.

Wenger is aware of the situation with Ozil and Sanchez, and earlier admitted that Arsenal will have to break the bank and win titles if he has to keep his star players at the Emirates. The Gunners boss explained the situation becomes difficult for the club when the player enter this final year of contract.

"Yes," said Wenger, when asked if Arsenal can afford to keep players in their final year of contract. "If you pay them enough money, and if they want to stay as well. they have to feel that you meet their needs at the club and they get paid for it. Ideally no (go into the final year) but that is why we negotiate before."

"Look, I find when you start a contract, you agree to commit for the length of the contract for the money you have signed for - but that is basically not the case because of the fact that you only retain the value of the player [as] you extend the contract two years before the end of a contract, or sometimes one year before," he added.

"Then you are always in a delicate situation because now do you sell with one year to go knowing you will get less money than when he has two years? Basically you have not much choice," the Gunners boss said.