Arsenal right back, Bacary Sagna is disappointed to have been offered only a one-year contract extension to remain at the North London club and is contemplating of leaving the club in the summer.
In the recent routine board meetings of Arsenal, held on Thursday where majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke was present, Wenger delivered the reports of on pitch developments and other areas of concern. The message came out from the meeting was Arsenal board will back Wenger in the redevelopment process and will be provided a transfer war chest in the summer, irrespective of league position in the Premier League this season.
Sagna, who has been at the club since 2007 has suffered two leg breaks in separate incidents last season and despite returning strongly in recent matches, Wenger harbours concern over his long-term fitness, therefore the club has decided to offer him a 12-month extension on his current contract which expires in 2014.
It is understood that Sagna is privately resigned to leaving the club in the summer with Parisian club Paris Saint-Germain his possible destination.
Wenger, who still wants to keep Sagna in the team, insisted that the Frenchman’s commitment and attitude can never be doubted and it is only his injury that is preventing him from playing to the level he wants to. He said as quoted in The Guardian:
“He has criticised his own form recently but the things you never question from Bacary are his commitment, his mental attitude, his desire to win and his intelligence.”
“If he has not been playing as he would expect, it is down to his injury. It takes time to come back, and he has played through a lot of pain – in fact, he is one of the strongest players I have met when it comes to doing that.”
Wenger has instructed chief scout Steve Rowley to draw up a list of potential right backs as the Gunners anticipate a busy summer in terms of players’ comings and goings at the Emirates.
January target Barcelona’s David Villa will be considered once again while Liverpool goal keeper Pepe Reina will also come under scrutiny as potential signings as well. Fringe players at the squad will be shifted out while the club will try to bring in exciting prospects like Victor Wanyama and Etienne Capoue.
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