Arsenal could lose eight players next summer as Arsene Wenger braces himself for biggest-ever squad shake-up

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Arsene Wenger is bracing himself for the biggest squad shake-up of his 21 year reign at Arsenal.

Arsenal face the prospect of losing Alexis Sanchez , Mesut Ozil , Jack Wilshere and club captain Per Mertesacker who are all out of contract at the end of the season.

Olivier Giroud could also go in the summer unless he gets more regular games while Everton are interested and have made an enquiry about Theo Walcott whose contract expires in 2019.

They also face dilemmas over Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck who are in the final two years of their contracts and Arsenal will be desperate not to face the prospect of losing more big names running down their deals.

Sanchez is certain to go with his contract expiring this summer and Paris Saint-Germain are likely to bid in January which may force Manchester City’s hand if they want him.

Arsenal may consider selling Sanchez rather than lose him for nothing after his drop in performances and even team mates worry his form has been affected by his uncertain future.

Manchester United and Barcelona are keen on Ozil who is a free agent this summer while Wilshere wants to stay but is desperate to play.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

It leaves Arsenal facing a potentially a massive rebuilding job with Raul Sanllehi - who was poached from his role as director of football at Barcelona - due to start officially on February 1.

Transfer fixer Dick Law will continue to oversee developments in the meantime.

But their scouting work will centre on Germany and the market in the Bundesliga which is seen as relatively untapped with new recruitment chief Sven Mislintat knowing the market from his time at Borussia Dortmund.

They want a new centre half in January and will look for another in the summer with Mainz’s Abdou Diallo and Wolfsburg’s Ohis Felix Uduokhai among the names being scouted. They have also looked at West Brom’s Jonny Evans.

They still want Monaco’s Thomas Lemar and Lyon’s Nabil Fekir could be a replacement if Ozil decides to snub a new deal and leave in the summer.