Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, goes into January still with no clear signal from his star player Alexis Sanchez whether he will stay or leave during the winter transfer window. The Chile international, whose contract expires in June, will be free to talk to clubs outside England from tomorrow, when he can also be the subject of bids from other Premier League clubs.

“I am not a psychologist to know what is in his head — if he is [thinking] short-term or long-term,” said Wenger, before Arsenal’s trip to relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion today. For that game he regards Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere, all three entering the last six months of their current deals, as available and fully motivated.

Wenger, who was seen