Arsene Wenger expressed frustration with questions about Alexis Sanchez’s contract situation on Friday, saying the media lack creativity and are wasting their time by always asking him about the Chile international’s future.
Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have yet to sign new contract extensions as their deals approach their final 18 months, and former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini stoked speculation about Sanchez moving to China by saying he would be happy to see his fellow Chilean to join him at Hebei China Fortune.
The Daily Mirror reported on Friday that Arsenal’s initial offer of £180,000 a week had been rejected by Sanchez, but when asked about the report at his news conference ahead of Sunday’s visit to Manchester City, Wenger said he had nothing to say about the contract negotiations.
“You waste your time because these players have 18 months’ contract and I don’t see why there is any urgency in every press conference to have that question,” Wenger said. “Maybe you lack a bit of creativity in the newspapers and you always come up with the same subject. I don’t see why that should turn up in every press conference.”
Sanchez could reportedly make upwards of £400,000 a week in China and Pellegrini, who said he was prevented from bringing Sanchez to City because of financial fair play, has made it clear he would welcome the striker at his new club.
“If he wants, we have a club in China, and he can join us quickly,” Pellegrini was quoted as saying this week, although his comment did not appear to be entirely serious.
Wenger had no interest in discussing that subject either, though.
“If people want to go to China, they go to China. You can understand that I have completely different worries than China today ahead of the Manchester City game,” Wenger said.
When asked if he is worried that his players could use lucrative Chinese offers as a negotiation tool, Wenger responded: “Look, I think I closed that subject. I believe that there is nothing more to add to that.”
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