Arsene Wenger has reportedly rejected a massive offer from an unnamed Chinese club as the uncertainty over his Arsenal future grows
According to the Telegraph, the legendary Frenchman has rejected a £30 million-a-year net offer – one that would have made him the highest paid manager in the world – from an unnamed Chinese club as he decides what his next move his.
Wenger recently admitted that he still had to decide whether or not he would remain at Arsenal next season but also stated that regardless of what that decision was, he would be a football manager next season.
Wenger is clearly not ready to retire and Arsenal have already placed a 2-year extension on the table according to the reports, something that Wenger is yet to sign prompting fears among Arsenal’s hierarchy that the Frenchman will leave at the end of the season.
The 67-year old has come in for some harsh criticism over the last few years after his side have failed repeatedly to challenge for major honours and the Emirates has become increasingly hostile this season as Arsenal’s title challenge fades once again.
The Gunners’ humiliating 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich did nothing to ease the fans and the number of banners in the stadium calling for his exit have only increased since then. Wenger himself uncharacteristically ended a press conference early following the defeat and many are starting to take these as signs that his time has come to an end.
The Telegraph claim that Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke remains desperate for Wenger to stay and has shown this, as his two-year contract extension offer includes a 25 per cent increase from £8m-a-year to around £10m-a-year.
Wenger will have no shortage of suitors should he decide to leave Arsenal at the end of the season. The Frenchman has previously admitted that he has turned down offers from several of Europe’s elite in order to stay at Arsenal and there is no doubt that several of them will be interested again if he becomes available.
Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all made approaches for Wenger in the past and while Real look like they are happy with Zinedine Zidane, there is a possibility that Bayern and Barcelona’s interest could be piqued should the Frenchman exit the Emirates.
There has never been a stronger feeling that Arsene Wenger will finally leave Arsenal after joining the club two decades ago but it does now seem increasingly likely that should he leave, he will stay in the European game
