Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez demand £200,000-a-week to sign new deals

Star duo holding out for huge pay packages before committing futures to the Emirates Stadium

ARSENAL face having to stump up £200,000-a-week each if they want Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to sign new deals with the club.

The Gunners are locked in talks with their star duo as they bid to ensure both commit their long-term futures to the Emirates.

While Arsenal hope to confirm rising young defender Hector Bellerin has signed a new contract, they are finding it more difficult thrashing out terms with Ozil and Sanchez.

Germany World Cup winner Ozil has 18 months left on his current contract in north-London and the club are desperate for him to stay.

But failure to challenge for major honours since his £42.5million move from Real Madrid in 2013 has left Ozil questioning whether he might need to look elsewhere for silverware.

The Gunners have responded to some of Ozil’s questions over their ability to challenge the big clubs by spending big last summer on new players.

And they hope the improvements of the side on the pitch this season also go a long way to persuading Ozil he can win things with Arsenal.

Sanchez is also out of contract at the end of next season and Manchester City have been monitoring his situation as talks drag on.

There had been some concerns within Arsenal over the fitness of the Chile star after last season was marred by a hamstring injury.

But his inspirational displays during the first few months of this campaign have again made him too important for the club to let go.

Both are looking for deals worth around £10m-a-season, and Arsenal are now looking at ways they can come up with the money while not inflating their overall wage bill too much.