Arsenal in difficult position in contracts talks with Ramsey

Bengaluru, February 7: Arsenal face the first real test of their new wage structure as they try to agree terms with star midfielder and long-term servant Aaron Ramsey on his new contract.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was adamant Mesut Ozil’s bumper new £350,000-per-week deal would not cause any problems when discussing new deals for other first-team stars but it is not as easy as it sounds.

Ramsey has 18 months to run on his current £110,000-a-week deal with the club desperate to avoid a repeat of the contract sagas with Alexis Sanchez and Ozil.

The Welsh international and his representatives watched closely as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan joined in January on packages worth close to £200,000-per-week.

Ramsey, who hit a hat-trick against Everton on Saturday, is yet to agree fresh terms at the Emirates and the Gunners bosses are reportedly fearing that Ozil’s huge pay rise could cause problems during negotiations with Ramsey.

The midfielder, who moved to Arsenal from Cardiff in 2008, knows his next deal is hugely important and probably his last big one and will expect a contract offer worthy of his status as a first-team regular.

Wenger will be desperate to get Ramsey to commit his long-term future at the Emirates.

However, with an influx of new players on big money, the Gunners top brass know they will have to pay over the odds to keep the box-to-box midfielder.

Arsenal could face the prospect of selling one of their longest serving players if an agreement is not reached to avoid Ramsey walking away for nothing at the end of next season.

Jack Wilshere, who has forced his way back into Wenger’s plans is a free agent in the summer and is still to agree a new contract.