Arsenal Transfer News: Thierry Henry Urges New Alexis Sanchez Deal, Top Rumours

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has urged Arsene Wenger to tie down Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to new deals at the club, with their contracts set to expire in 2018.

The superstar attackers have been in negotiations with the Gunners for a number of months, and Henry has advised his former club they must move swiftly to hold onto their best talents.

Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t David Wright of the Express), Henry declared:

"

Arsene Wenger and the club are clever enough to know that they have to secure those deals.

Are they going to stay? I want them to, but you don't know what is happening behind closed doors. 

We both know how important Mesut Ozil is, and even more now how important Alexis Sanchez is. Him playing through the middle has made the real difference this year.

If you want to build a future, they are the future of the club. You build the team around those guys.

"

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Sanchez has taken on the mantle of primary goalscorer for Arsenal this term, and he has been the team's shining light in their title challenge so far.

The 27-year-old has produced a phenomenal set of numbers during the current campaign, scoring 14 goals and creating eight assists in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, according to WhoScored.com.

Ozil has also carried on the form he built last year, but his presence in the side doesn't match the output achieved by the diminutive Chilean dynamo.

Arsenal club secretary David Miles recently stated talks with both players are progressing well, per BT Sport.

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Wenger has lauded Sanchez after switching him to the centre, but admitted he was unsure of his best position, as quoted by Neil McLeman of the Daily Mirror:

"

When you see the guy who plays wide and can score goals, he can play in the centre and score even more.

I always saw that in Sanchez and I must honestly say I thought many times when I played him last year or two years ago I was wrong.

Because the few ­experiences I attempted with him through the middle were not convincing and I even remember at Everton I changed it at half-time. This year it clicked very early in the season.

"

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In other news, Carl Jenkinson could be on his way from Arsenal, after Aston Villa approached the Gunners about a potential loan.

Neil Moxley of the Mirror reported the much-maligned defender could rebuild his career after serious injury at the Championship club. Steve Bruce has suggested a switch to Wenger, and the Frenchman will decide what is best to give the player a confidence boost.

Wenger has a plethora of talented attacking midfielders, but Sanchez would not be a loss Arsenal could immediately soak up if they cannot get him to pen a new contract.

With only 18 months of his current deal remaining, the Chile international would have to be sold in the summer in order for Arsenal to protect their financial assets in the player.

If either Sanchez or Ozil come onto the market, there will be no shortage of takers. Wenger will be forced to lose the talents cheaply compared to their genuine valuations.