Arsenal’s Chilean Superstar winger Alexis Sanchez is one of the players entering the final two years of his contract and the club are keen on tying the player down with an extension for the future. Alexis Sanchez and Ozil are the two, most recognisable names in the Gunners squad and the management want to keep them at the Emirates for a long time. Trying to start negotiations for the potential extension, Sanchez’s demands have currently halted the talks as the Chilean reportedly is asking for over a £35,000 rise on his current wages per week and most significantly an inclusion of a release clause.
Sanchez joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014 and had an immediate impact. In his debut season, the attacker scored 16 league goals and provided 8 assists and won the F.A Cup with the Gunners. Last season he scored another 13 goals in the league while assisting 4 and remained one of the major contributors in the team. With a record of 43 goals in 97 appearances in all competitions, it can be said that the demands of pay rise by the Chilean, is a just one considering the present scenario of wage structure in the Premier League clubs. The player currently is on a £140,000 per week wage but wants to make it to £175,000 per week which is not absurd by any means, given the quality of the player. The problem, however, is with the release clause.
Release clauses are nothing but avenues which help a player leave a club. When a player thinks or demands about having a release clause put into his contract, it is bound to disturb the management for they know that the player is giving an indication of leaving the club in the near future.
A release clause would definitely be attracting the interest of other suitable buyers as once the fee set as the release clause is paid or in other words once the clause gets activated by a buyer club, the parent club is all but destined to lose their asset without almost any chance of keeping the player. With last season ending disappointingly as the Gunners finished their campaign without silverware, Sanchez seems to have grown a bit impatient at the Emirates.
It must be noted that despite his statistics, Sanchez did not perform particularly well last season and also reacted with immaturity when the manager rested him after his injury which he suffered midway through the season. While the ambition and willingness of the player to play and score in every game is good for him individually, it sometimes disrupts the rhythm on a collective basis from the team’s point of view. Alexis needs to understand that.
A release clause may seem like he wants to use his time at Arsenal as a stepping stone for bigger and better things, but there aren’t many clubs which will be able to offer him the brand of football Arsenal play in a league as competitive as the Premier League. With the current crop of players, Arsenal are definitely going to be a lot stronger and being one of the team’s major contributors, Wenger also is keen to keep him with the squad for the future but the present demands seems to be a bit too much for the club.
Arsenal can very well look to sell Alexis and buy some other big name players who will suit their playing style if the negotiations aren’t successful. As for now, the club hopes to come to a positive conclusion over the contract but the demands made by Sanchez in terms of the release clause will not go down well with the fans who really love him for his attitude and infectious tenacity.
