Arsenal Transfer News: Marco Reus Eyed Amid Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil Rumours

Arsenal will reportedly move for Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus should Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil fail to agree a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. 

That’s according to Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, who has stated that while the Gunners want to convince their prized assets to extend their terms beyond 2018, renewing the deals has been far from straightforward. High-class contingency plans have been put in place as a result.

Reus has reportedly been considered as he "can operate both as a main central striker or in one of the three more withdrawn attacking roles that manager Arsene Wenger employs in his usual 4-2-3-1 system." It’s also noted he would pick up a significant pay rise if he joined the Gunners.

The Germany international has been one of the standout players in the Bundesliga for a long time, bringing goals and assists to the BVB side on a consistent basis. Here is what he can offer:

As noted by Wilson, keeping Sanchez and Ozil at the club is top of Arsenal's agenda in terms of recruitment, as each has 18 months remaining on their contract. It's enough for some tied to the Gunners to begin getting edgy about the status of each player.

It's suggested in the report that Arsenal have offered both a weekly salary of £180,000 to commit, although they're said to be holding out for wages in excess of £200,000 per week.

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Both players are vital to the way the Gunners operate. Ozil is the creative fulcrum of the team, knitting attacks together with an impudent ease. Sanchez, meanwhile, has led the Gunners line tremendously this season, allowing Arsenal to press high up the pitch and win the ball back in dangerous positions.

With 12 goals and six assists in the Premier League already, sports journalist Liam Canning thinks Sanchez is the more important of Arsenal's two brightest stars:

Although there are clear stylistic differences between Reus and the Arsenal duo, the German would be a more direct replacement for Sanchez.

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Like the Chilean, he looks to blend close control, powerful running and direct shooting in advanced areas. Reus is a major threat floating in from the left side, and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may feel as though he could do a similar job to Sanchez at the point of attack too.

The main issue with Dortmund’s No. 11 has always been his injury record; Reus made his first appearance of the campaign in November due to fitness woes. When he does get on the pitch, however, there's no doubting his talent, per Squawka Football:

For continuity, Arsenal need to ensure Sanchez and Ozil remain at the club. The pair may be asking for huge sums of money to commit their futures to the Emirates Stadium, and that will leave a bitter taste for many supporters. However, those kinds of wages are the going rate for the best players.

If the Gunners were able to land Reus as a replacement, it would potentially be savvy business on their part, as the forward is one of the most exciting attacking players in European football at full flight. But with his fitness record and unfamiliarity with the league, there would be a big degree of risk attached to any deal.