Arsene Wenger Responds Defiantly to Growing Mesut Ozil & Alexis Sanchez January Exit Rumours

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will not be sold in the January window, despite their contracts entering their final six months.

That is according to Arsene Wenger, who told the press assembled at his pre-match Huddersfield Town media briefing (via football.london) that he expected the two contract rebels to still be with Arsenal next February.

Sanchez and Ozil have both been tipped to leave north London in the winter transfer window after the pair failed to pen new long-term deals at the Emirates.

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Sanchez has been linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain recently while Ozil is apparently on Manchester United's radar, and some reports have alleged that the attackers would leave if the Gunners opted to cash in on them.

Wenger, however, claimed that would not be the case and ruled out any possibility of that scenario being played out.

He said: "Yes, of course [I expect them to stay]. I rule it out. I don’t think every day about that.

"As long as they are here they give their best for the club. In my head they stay until the end of the season, unless something unbelievable happens I don’t see that changes."

Ozil and Sanchez have been locked in lengthy negotiations over possible new deals for around 18 months, but neither has committed their future to Arsenal over apparent concerns about contesting for the Premier League title.

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If Arsenal opt not to sell the duo in six weeks' time, they will be able to leave on free transfers next June - a financial hit that Arsenal fans would arguably not be happy with.

Wenger was asked if there would be any potential for a massive U-turn by either player ahead of next summer, but he admitted it was not solely up for him to decide where their futures lie.

The Frenchman added: "I am not the only one to decide that. They have to decide that as well."