Arsenal confident of holding on to Barcelona target

 

Arsenal are confident Aaron Ramsey will renew his contract with the club despite interest from Barcelona, Lazio, Manchester United and Chelsea, claims The Daily Mirror.

 

Ramsey has entered the final 12 months of his existing contract and the Gunners were hopeful of wrapping up his future before the start of the season.

 

Unai Emery has already made it clear he wants Ramsey to pledge his future to the club but the Wales international has previously been coy on his future when asked about how contract talks are progressing.

 

Arsenal are desperate to avoid selling another player to a direct rival but will have to contemplate his departure if no progress is made before the January transfer window.

 

Barcelona and Lazio are also monitoring the 27-year-old's future at the Emirates but Emery's side have no reason to believe the midfielder wants to leave the club.

 

Arsenal handed out huge contracts to the likes of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the start of the year and Ramsey is also demanding a huge wake hike.

 

Arsenal confident of holding on to Barcelona target

 

Ramsey knows he is in a strong position and will be able to command in excess of £200,000-a-week wages if he leaves the Gunners on a free next summer.

 

The Welshman has endured his injury problems in the past but is a key man at the club and Emery wants to build his midfield around the No.8.

 

Only Alexandre Lacazette (17) has scored more goals for Arsenal than Ramsey (11) in all competitions since the start of last season.