Arsenal searching for Alexis Sanchez's replacement with Marco Reus, Andre Silva and Alexandre Lacazette all in the frame to succeed the contract rebel

-Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez both have uncertain futures 

-  The pair are closing in on the final year of their contracts at the Emirates 

- Africa headline provides three options for the Gunners should they lose the pair 

Arsenal have started planning for life without contract rebel Alexis Sanchez. 

The Chile star is at the centre of a long-running contract wrangle that is showing no sign of being resolved. 

And the Gunners look like they have accepted Sanchez will leave this summer by starting to look for his replacement.  

Alexis Sanchez will soon enter the final 12 months of his contract with Arsenal

The club’s scouts have been asked to find forwards worthy of filling Sanchez’s shoes. Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus and Porto’s Andre Silva are all admired at the London club. 

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette is highly-rated among top clubs in Europe

Andre Silva has already scored 18 goals in 33 games for Porto this season

  Marco Reus has struggled with injuries at Borussia Dortmund but could be an option

Sanchez currently earns £130,000 per week and has been offered a new deal worth an extra £50,000 a week

but he will not accept an offer below £250,000. 

The forward enters the final 12 months of his deal at the end of the season, at which point Arsenal will consider selling him to ensure they do not lose him for nothing when his contract expires in 2018

Mesut Ozil is in the same situation and both players could leave the club this summer

Arsenal fans will be desperate to see Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil commit their futures to the club... but what if they don't?

The Chilean and the German are integral players for the Gunners, and whoever is in charge of first-team affairs at the Emirates Stadium this summer will have their work cut out trying to replace the pair if they cut and run.