Arsene Wenger Hopes to Persuade Arsenal Star to Stay at Emirates

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident French defender Bacary Sagna will stay at the Emirates, despite revealing the right-back is open to a move when his contract expires in the summer.

The 31-year-old has become frustrated at only being offered a two-year deal on his current wage of £60,000 a week at the Emirates – and looks set to reject the offer in a continued attempt to win a three-year contract.

However, according to talkSport, Wenger believes the defender, who has been a key part of the Gunners' back four for the past seven years, will prolong his stay at Arsenal.

"He [Sagna] has an offer. He has not come back to us. I am confident he will stay" Wenger said.

The defender has been linked with a move to Inter Milan but club president Erick Thohir has revealed that he will not be moving to Serie A, as the player has decided to remain in England.

"I think Sagna will not arrive because he has decided to stay in the Premier League. Right now we only have [Yuto] Nagatomo and Jonathan. If one of them gets injured you need somebody else to come in" Thohir said.

"But we have to accept the fact he [Sagna] wants to stay in England. We understand and in that case we might bring in a young player from our academy."

Meanwhile, Manchester City have reportedly offered Sagna a three-year deal to link up with his former Arsenal teammates Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy at the Etihad Stadium – Galatasaray are also interested in the French international.

Despite the fact Sagna is free to speak to other clubs, Wenger believes City may have broken the rules if they have indeed approached him, as he remains under contract the Emirates.

"That [City's reported approach] cannot be right and it would be illegal," he added.

The uncertainty surrounding Sagna has prompted Wenger to st before the start of next season to protect his interests – indeed sources close to the Emirates suggest he has already maked enquiries for Borussia Dortmund's right-back Lukasz Piszczek.