As a diversion, let's talk about players whose contracts expire at the end of next season: Walcott, Welbeck, Ramsey, Cech, and Giroud.
Players whose contracts expire at the end of the season: Ozil, Alexis, Wilshere, Campbell.
Jeremy Wilson is reporting that we have started preliminary discussions with Welbeck and Ramsey. There are no on-going contract talks with Ozil, Alexis, or Wilshere.
Giroud and Walcott are set to depart in the summer. Wilshere is a goner too. Alexis will leave for sure - only question is if it's in Jan or in the summer.
Alexis scored 30 goals last season. He's been our leading goal scorer since he's joined. No winger has scored more than Alexis in the Premier League since his arrival. I'm not sure who would be able to reproduce that once he's gone.
A sticky position to be in.
In rather uplifting news, nonetheless, we shall continue to be clowns by offering Welbeck a Theo-esque deal.
Ramsey will no doubt sign a £150k a week deal.
Gosh, I just wish either one of Alexis or Ozil stayed.