Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger is about to be offered a new contract
to take him beyond his current deadline of summer 2011, according
to a report.
The Times claims that the hierarchy at the Emirates are
looking to tie the Frenchman down to an extended deal, not just due
to his own merits but also so as to secure the futures of certain
key youngsters.
Francesc Fabregas, while under contract for five years, is known to
greatly prize his working relationship with his mentor, and if
Wenger was to leave his future would look slightly less
certain.
Meanwhile Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott's current contract
talks are stalling, and without a solid presence on the manager's
bench they may be tempted to move on without penning new
deals.
However, Wenger's own merits are thought to be very much in demand,
too. While the former Monaco man has repeatedly stated that he has
no intention of leaving before his current deal runs out, the board
are eager to keep him on in the longer term.
This is partially because Wenger is used to working with a playing
budget that is modest by top four standards, and as Arsenal's
loan debt repayment continues this is unlikely to
change too drastically. Other coaches may be less willing to take
on such a task.
Furthermore, Arsene enjoys a fruitful relationship with several of
the club's power-brokers - but this is a double-edged sword. Former
vice-chairman David Dein, a key Wenger ally, has departed, and with
the prospect of what the Times calls a "takeover battle"
between Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke, Wenger may deem the
future too uncertain to commit to anything just yet.
It's also worth noting that Arsene generally prefers to wait until
the final year of his deal before signing a new one and it is far
from certain that Arsenal and the Professor will reach an accord
imminently.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com