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Arsenal have already approached Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck over the possibility of extending their contracts at the Emirates Stadium, but talks with Jack Wilshere have not been initiated, according to The Daily Mail.

The injury-prone midfielder has struggled for fitness in recent years and will become a free agent next summer if the Gunners cannot negotiate extended terms for the youth-team graduate.

Wilshere has looked assured in Europa League performances this season, but with Ramsey and Granit Xhaka ahead of him in the central midfield pecking order, Arsenal outings in the Premier League have been fleeting.

As such, speculation continues to mount over the England international’s future, with it remaining to be seen if Arsene Wenger will look to keep the home-grown hero at the Emirates Stadium or allow him to find a new challenge elsewhere.

While Wilshere’s future remains up in the air, the report suggests Arsenal are keen to tie Ramsey and Welbeck down to improved contracts, despite both having over 12 months remaining on their current deals.

The Wales international’s calibre has never been in doubt, but, like Wilshere, the former Cardiff City man has suffered a number of serious injuries during his time in North London.

That said, Ramsey has looked close to his best this season, with a clean bill of health meaning that the 26-year-old is one of the first names on Wenger’s team sheet – and rightly so.

With a combination of tenacity, energy and an eye-for-goal, the Welshman will be critical in Arsenal’s hopes of a successful campaign in 2017-18, with the Gunners supporters surely keen for the star to commit to the club.

Welbeck is a player that has showcased unique attributes during his time with the club and the former Manchester United attacker has scored a number of important goals during that time.

With the ability to play anywhere across the forward line, the England international is a useful option in the final third for Wenger and he has recently returned to fitness and availability.

However, when looking at Welbeck’s future, realistically his chances of playing on a weekly basis depend on others in the Arsenal squad.

With no progression or updates on potential contract extensions for Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil, the Gunners attack could look considerably different come the summer.

However, if one or both of these international stars commit to Arsenal, Welbeck will be left competing with the stellar pair and the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Iwobi, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and others for a place in the team.

As such, although the speedy forward is a player that has plenty to offer the Gunners, the logic of offering him a new long-term deal to play a fringe role at the club is questionable.

One only has to look at the case of Walcott, who has been at Arsenal for the majority of his career but never really established himself as a pegged-on starter in Wenger’s team.

If Welbeck is happy to fulfil a similar role, a new deal for the attacker could suit all parties.

However, as in the case of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, if the player wants to fight for more regular first-team football at another club, selling him in the summer may be the fairest thing to do.

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