Arsenal’s attempted squad clear-out has run into some headwinds as some players unwilling to take pay-cuts to leave. The Gunners want to trim their large squad of players that manager Arsene Wenger has deemed surplus to requirements.
But Arsenal are finding difficulty in moving their unwanted stars, even those entering the last year of their contract, because of the players high wages.
The likes of Jack Wilshere, David Ospina, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Lucas Perez, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy have all been told that can all leave the club this summer.
Arsenal stand to slash £19 million off their wage bill if they can sell their players, with Watford, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Galatasaray among the clubs keen on their fringe stars.
However, the north London club have sold just one first-team player this summer; Wojciech Szczesny, who has spent the last two seasons on loan, leaving for Juventus in a £10 million deal
When asked if he was comfortable with the situation, Arsene Wenger said:
“Not an issue. I think it’s an ideal situation. Everyone has to perform.
“I think in the future you will see it more and more. Why? Because the transfers are so high even for normal players, you will see more and more players going into the final year of the contract because no club will want to pay the amount demanded. I’m convinced in the next 10 years it will become usual.
“When you’re a football player you perform until the last day of your contract. Whether you have two or one year left it doesn’t change. You want to play and do well. Do you really think they sit in the dressing room and think ‘Oh I have one year to go I will not play well today’? Where does that come from.
“If that was true, we would sign everybody for 20 years and then you would be happy.
“When you are a football player you want to play well, what does that have to do with the length of your contract. It’s amazing. I am amazed that you are surprised by that. It looks normal to me.
