Arsenal coach Robert Pires has revealed he is unsure whether star striker Alexis Sanchez will sign a new deal at Emirates Stadium.
Sanchez, 28, has a year and a half remaining on his current deal at Emirates Stadium. The Chilean is the English Premier League's joint top scorer this season with 15 goals.
Pires, 43, was part of Arsenal's "Invincibles" team that went unbeaten in the Premier League through the 2003-04 season.
Now a coach at the club, Pires told Chilean newspaper La Tercera he had spoken to Chile striker Sanchez about his future.
"I asked Alexis last week about his renewal. He told me that he didn't know, that he only wants to play," Pires said. "He doesn't know what is going to happen, he just wants to play and enjoy it [football].
"All we want is for Alexis to remain at Arsenal. I hope he renews his contract because he is a wonderful player. Alexis is the engine of the car. I hope [he] stays forever."
Sanchez would face no shortage of suitors in the event Arsenal decides not to pay his reported £290,000 a week wage demands, with Manchester City understood to be interested. There Sanchez would join up with Pep Guardiola, who signed him for Barcelona from Udinese in July 2011.