Saturday 21 January 2017 16:03, UK
Arsenal can't afford to let talisman Alexis Sanchez leave - they need to pay up and give him a new contract, says Jamie Redknapp...
Every now and again a club faces a big problem and that big problem for Arsenal right now is Alexis Sanchez's contract situation.
He's their best player, the one every club would want. His work ethic is second to none, too. Last week, he got criticism for showing his frustration when he was substituted but that just summed up how much of a winner he is, how much he wants to play.
The problem Arsenal have is he'll know his market value - and he's reportedly received some big financial offers from China. He'll also know there's interest from other Premier League clubs, as well as the major teams in Europe because he's only got 18 months remaining on his contract. Apart from Barcelona, there's no team he wouldn't get into.
Arsenal can't afford to lose him. On the pitch, he's their top scorer. Their talisman. But off the field, his departure would also send out the wrong message to players Arsenal are trying to sign. They want to come to the club because it's one of the best in the world but also because of players such as Sanchez who are there.
His exit would give players like Mesut Ozil reason to question whether the club is going in the right direction, too - and an excuse to consider their own future.
Arsene Wenger has always tried to be very careful with the money but on this occasion Arsenal have got to pay up.
Everyone would rightly say Sanchez and Ozil are Arsenal's two best players and if they get a bit more in wages than the others, I don't think anyone would mind. That's all part of it and the way football works. Players like Sanchez of this world will always get more than players like Coquelin, for example.
Arsene Wenger has always tried to be very careful with money, but on this occasion Arsenal have got to pay up.
Don't get me wrong, one player isn't bigger than the club and if Sanchez was holding them to ransom or it was about pure greed, then it's different. But he's playing great, he's on top of his game, the fans adore him and he's an iconic player.
As long as everyone's reasonable, Arsenal have to make it happen. And if they did get a new deal over the line in the coming months, imagine what a boost that would be for everyone at the club.
They're very much still in the Premier League title race, into the Champions League knockout stage and if Sanchez was to commit his long-term future to them it could really spur them on.
It's going to be tough for the club because he will be offered some huge deals from around the world, but they need to find a way to tie him down. He's too important for them to let him leave.
