Arsenal stars handed ‘sign new deals or leave’ ultimatum
French duo Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy will not be allowed to enter the final year of their contracts
Arsenal have told French stars Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy that they must sign new deals this summer – or face the prospect of being sold.
Both players are out of contract in a year’s time, in June 2012, and are yet to accept extensions offered to them by the Gunners board.
That opens up the possibility of the duo leaving on Bosman free transfers next summer, but Arsene Wenger has made it clear that the club will not allow that to occur.
Wenger has already seen another Frenchman, Mathieu Flamini, run down his contract in 2008 before joining AC Milan, and is desperate not to have a repeat.
“We do not want to do that [allow them to leave on a free like Flamini]. We won’t allow that to happen, said Wenger. “It has to be resolved before the season starts again, we need to know very quickly.”
While older players on short-term deals are often allowed to run down their contracts, as William Gallas did a year ago before joining Tottenham, Arsenal have a policy of always having young players on long-term contracts.
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Midfielder Nasri will be 24 next month, but has not extended the four-year deal he signed on joining the Gunners from Marseille in 2008.
He was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award this season, having scored 15 goals in all competitions, but faded towards the end of the campaign.
Left-back Clichy is the Gunners’ longest-serving player having been at the club for almost eight years, but his future is in genuine doubt after not agreeing to a new deal earlier this year.
Barcelona have shown interest in Clichy before, and could renew their interest if it became clear that Arsenal were prepared to listen to offers for the 25-year-old.
Two players who could leave the Emirates THIS summer are Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner.
Bendtner has voiced his disappointment after starting just three Premier League games this season and his father and agent has confirmed his son will look for a move, with Bayern Munich a possible destination.
Denilson started just six league games, and has asked to leave and join a club in either Spain or Italy.
