Alexis Sanchez 1/2 to stay at Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger willing to 'sacrifice' transfer fee

The Chile international has been linked with a move away from the club this summer with less than a year remaining on his current deal at the Emirates Stadium, but is now heavily odds-on to stay.

Wenger has insisted several times that Sanchez will not be sold - although 7/2 chances Manchester City continue to be linked - and that he would rather lose the player for nothing at the end of the current campaign.

Sanchez has not played for the Gunners this season, returning late to training following his Confederations Cup exertions before missing the 4-3 win over Leicester with an abdominal strain.

Rumours persist that a move away is on the cards with Wenger so far resisting the temptation to cash in on the 28-year-old.

The Frenchman insisted last week it was his decision not to sell Sanchez and he is more than prepared to miss out on a pay-day by sticking to his guns.

"Let's not be wrong, it's not an ideal situation on the financial side and it demands some sacrifice," he said.

"But first of all it doesn't mean the players who are in the final year of their contract will not extend their contract. You have still that possibility and we work on that as well.

"That (possibly allowing Sanchez to leave for free) is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately.

"But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest and most of the time if you can find a good compromise, it's better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side."

Wenger was speaking ahead of Arsenal's trip to Stoke on Saturday, where Sanchez will again miss out, and said that there had been no headway made on tying the former Barcelona man down to a new contract.

"We have not progressed on that front," he said.

"At the moment he is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. We have not made any progress on the other front."

Mesut Ozil is also out of contract next summer but little has been made of his situation, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another whose deal expires in 2018.

The England international has been constantly linked with both Liverpool and Chelsea in recent months.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has started Arsenal's opening two fixtures of the season and Wenger is adamant he too is not about to say his goodbyes.

Asked if Oxlade-Chamberlain would be here at the end of the season, he replied: "Yes.

"Because I rate him highly and he's one of the players who is on his way up. In the last year, he has made huge progress and personally I want him to stay here for a long time.

"I'm convinced he will be the English player that everybody will look at in the next two years. I have regular conversations with the players where I tell them where I stand and they know what I want and where I stand on that front."

Wenger suggested earlier in the month that the future of midfielder Jack Wilshere remained up in the air.

Wilshere is yet another player who has less than a year on his contract and was loaned out to Bournemouth last season as his opportunities in north London were limited.

It now appears that Wilshere, currently recovering from a fractured leg, will remain at Arsenal for the current season at least.

"I think I plan for him to be here for the whole season, after we will see," he added.

"For him it's good that he's back and available. I think he needs games now. He might play again on Monday night (for the under-23s) but overall, what is important for him is the natural progression to be completely fit. He is not far away now."

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