Wenger Prepares £25m Bid for Serbian Star

JosIp Ilicic's agent has refuted claims the attacking midfielder will join Arsenal in the January transfer window, but hinted at a summer move for the Palermo playmaker.

The 23-year-old Serbian has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs after a series of eye-catching displays for the Sicilian team this season.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini moved to stave off reports Ilicic was on the verge of a move to Arsenal by slapping a £25m price tag on the midfielder.

But the player's agent, Amir Ruznic, told tuttomercatoweb.it that the player was unlikely to leave in January.

"I really don't believe Ilicic will leave Palermo in January," he said.

"In recent days I spoke to the club [Palermo] and no one told me anything. In any case, it would not be easy to replace him midway through the season.

"However, perhaps in June it would be a different story."

Asked about possible interest in the 23-year-old Serbian, Ruznic said: "I don't know anything about it.

"Perhaps there have been contacts between the clubs but at the moment none of these clubs have spoken to me.

"Ilicic is a player of great value and has great technique and quality. I could see him doing well in a big club."