Sagna and Mertesacker to be offered new Arsenal contracts

By Andrew Tuft

Thursday 05 September 2013

Arsene Wenger will offer new contracts to Arsenal defenders Bacary Sagna and Per Mertesacker in the near future, the Daily Telegraph has reported, as the manager attempts to keep together the squad he is building at the Emirates Stadium.


The newspaper adds that Wenger would still like to add a striker to the group in the next transfer windows but until then the focus is on retaining the players he already has, following the club record capture of Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil on Monday’s transfer deadline day.

Sagna’s contract expires at the end of this season and talks over a one-year extension have previously proved fruitless. The 30-year-old is likely to be offered another 12 month deal, in line with club policy, but is still considered an important member of the Gunners team as first choice right-back. The Telegraph claims that Sagna’s ability to cover at centre-back convinced Wenger not to sign a central defender in the transfer window.

Mertesacker, 28, has a contract that expires in 2015 but has impressed senior figures at the club who wish to tie the Germany international down to a longer-term deal. Mertesacker signed a four-year contract upon joining Arsenal in 2011 and has since formed a partnership with Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

Sagna moved to the capital in 2007, signing from Auxerre. He has gone on to make close to 250 appearances under Wenger, scoring a handful of goals. Mertesacker, meanwhile, has played 76 games for Arsenal, scoring three times.
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