Arsene Wenger raised eyebrows on Sunday by claiming it’s “ideal” that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have now entered the final 12 months of their contracts.

The Arsenal boss is convinced this will become an increasingly common occurrence in football and doesn’t believe it affects players’ performance levels.

"It is an ideal situation - everyone has to perform," Wenger was quoted as saying by FourFourTwo. "In the future you will see that more and more, players going to the end of their contract. Why Because transfers become so high, even for normal players, they will go to the end of the contract because no one will want to pay the amount of money that is demanded. I am convinced that in the next 10 years that will become usual.

"When you are a football player you perform until the last day of your contract. What does it change if you have two years or one year to go? If you go out on the football pitch you want to play and you want to do well.

"Do you really think that you sit in the dressing room before the game and think, 'Oh I only have one year to go I will not play well today'? Where does that come from?

"When you're a football player you want to go out and play and do as well as you can. What does that have to do with the length of your contract? How long do you know that you will work for your company? As long as you work you do well.

"Nobody knows if Sanchez will not extend his contract here. The performance on the day does not depend on the length of the contract. If that was true we would sign everyone for 20 years."

The 'out of contract in 2018' XI

With Wenger’s comments fresh in our minds, we’ve decided to take a build an XI of players whose contracts expire in 2018.

These lot, unless things change, will all be available to sign on free transfers next summer.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon | Juventus

The 39-year-old is expected to retire next summer, but could he be tempted to play on elsewhere?

Right-back: Juanfran | Atletico Madrid

The Spain international turns 33 in January but could still be an excellent free signing for a top club next summer.

Centre-back: Jose Gimenez | Atletico Madrid

A huge talent, Atletico Madrid will surely be desperate to tie the Uruguay international down to a long-term contract.

Centre-back: Giorgio Chiellini | Juventus

The vastly-experienced Italian defender was expected to sign a new three-year deal with Juventus, but negotiations appear to have stalled.

Left-back: Luke Shaw | Manchester United

If he continues to find life miserable under Jose Mourinho, Luke Shaw might be tempted to walk away from Old Trafford on a free transfer next July.

Midfield: Andres Iniesta | Barcelona

Surely - surely - Barcelona will hand Andres Iniesta a new contract. There’s a chance the Catalan giants will allow him to leave the Camp Nou on a free transfer this time next year.

Midfield: Isco | Real Madrid

One of the world’s most talented attacking midfielders, Real Madrid would be crazy not to offer Isco what he wants to extend his stay at the Bernabeu.

Midfield: Mesut Ozil | Arsenal

There’s now a serious chance that Mesut Ozil will walk away from the Emirates Stadium on a free next summer.

Forward: Alexis Sanchez | Arsenal

If he doesn’t get his move to Manchester City this summer, expect to see the Chilean join Pep Guardiola’s side on a free transfer in 2018.

Forward: Mario Balotelli | Nice

Any takers? Nope. Okay, then.

Forward: Arjen Robben | Bayern Munich

Even when he’s 40, he’ll still be scoring goals by cutting in from the right wing and bending a shot into the far corner of the net with that lethal left foot of his.

Honourable mentions

Blaise Matuidi, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Stefan de Vrij, Keita Balde, Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Daley Blind, Fernandinho, Jack Wilshere, Leon Goretzka, Emre Can, Carlos Vela, Max Meyer, Bernard, Joao Moutinho, Hatem Ben Arfa, Santi Cazorla, Marouane Fellaini.