Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is uncertain whether the club can convince Alexis Sanchez to sign a new contract.
The Frenchman reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the striker, who is in the final year of his current deal, but has doubts regarding his long-term future.
Wenger told SFR Sport that he has a "firm intention" to retain Sanchez's services but added that he is "not super optimistic" about a contract renewal.
Arsenal have offered the Chilean a new deal worth £300,000 a week, but the forward is yet to confirm whether he intends to remain at the Emirates indefinitely.
Wenger is said to be willing to risk losing Sanchez on a free transfer next summer, rather than sell him to a rival team for his estimated value of £50m.
The striker is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks with a muscular injury and will miss the start of the new Premier League season.
Mark Langshaw
