Gossip: Ozil to sign, but Alexis optimism wanes

Matt Stead

ARSENAL CONTRACTS
‘If we had £1 for every time we’ve heard about Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez being very close to signing new deals, we’d have upwards of £10,’ read a line in Wednesday’s gossip. Well chuck another quid into the jar, because we have more Arsenal contract news on Thursday. Sexy.

‘Arsenal are trying to bring a swift conclusion to protracted contract talks with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil,’ writes Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail. Considering negotiations have laboured on for months, ‘swift conclusion’ is a generous description. Both have under two years remaining on their current contracts, as everyone surely knows by now.

There is an expectation that Ozil will sign a new deal with no complications. He will see his £140,000-a-week salary increased, and is happy at the club. With regards to Sanchez, on the other hand, ‘there is not so much optimism’. It was claimed on Wednesday that the Chilean wants a pay rise. Mokbel supports that theory, and adds that he also wants to insert a buy-out clause into his deal.

Mokbel adds contract news on three other players. Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs, who are each entering the final two years of their contracts, are no closer to extending their deals. That leaves the possibility that each will have just a year left by the end of the season – a scenario Arsenal never allow when it comes to first-team players.

 

CHELSEA NOT SHUTTING DE VRIJ DOOR
The Daily Star don’t think Chelsea should sign a central defender ever again, it seems. At least that is what we can glean from their headline, ‘Chelsea to make January defender move despite landing David Luiz’. ‘Despite’ signing someone else? How dare they even consider it.

The central defender in question is Stefan de Vrij, he of brilliant name and Dutch origins. The Lazio centre-half was the subject of a reported £34m Chelsea bid in the summer. The Blues will renew their interest in the winter, according to Calciomercato.

 

SCOUTING AROUND
How does one write a transfer story ensuring that each of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester clubs are included? Heck, throw in another six English clubs for good measure, and you have yourself a ruddy goldmine.

The Daily Mirror have stumbled upon quite the transfer update on Thursday morning: Eleven English clubs sent scouts to watch Benfica’s Champions League game with Besiktas. Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, West Ham, West Brom and Aston Villa scouts also attended the 1-1 draw.

Unfortunately, the Mirror have no insight as to who exactly said scouts were watching. They decide that it must be one of four players, and kindly give us brief descriptions of Victor Lindelof (central defender), Alex Grimaldo (left-back), Eduardo Salvio (right-winger) and Goncaldo Guedes (winger). So you’re looking to sign either a centre-half, a left-back or a winger, guys.

 

AND THE REST
There is no other gossip. Be grateful you have this.