Arsenal Transfer: Andre Ayew Signs a New Contract, Release Clause Shoots Up

Despite Arsene Wenger's staunch claims that he "was never in for Andre Ayew", the Olympique de Marseille winger has continued to be linked to north London.

Given recent developments, it remains to be seen whether those rampant links will continue.

Ayew had signed a one-year contract extension with Marseille last December, pushing back the expiration date to 2015.

But on Monday, French Football Weekly writer Jason Milligan tweeted that Ayew's release clause has now shot up from €13 million (£10.8 million) to a tidy €18 million (£14.9 million), supposedly a result from the new deal.

While Arsene Wenger is believed to have a sizeable transfer fund made available to him this summer, one wonders whether he would even think of making a move now.

Never one to jump at the prospect of spending big, Wenger has also said in the past that he is content with his current options on the wing.

The rise of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the return of Ryo Miyaichi from his loan deal with Bolton should only reaffirm his line of thought.

Then there's the question of whether Wenger will make a play this summer for Belgian wunderkind Eden Hazard, also 21, another player who prefers to be used out on the wing. (Hazard does have a tendency to drift centrally during matches.)

While Ayew is talented, Hazard is a once in a generation sort of gem.

One would think that with the wing spots filling up rapidly, Wenger would move for the latter if he did, in fact, wish to bring an extra option in on the flanks.