Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists their priority is to offer Hector Bellerin a new deal to ward off reported interest from Manchester City.
Bellerin, 21, has been heavily linked with a move away from Arsenal since the end of last season after establishing himself as one of the best full-backs in the Premier League.
Barcelona were reportedly interested in re-signing the Spain international during the summer and Pep Guardiola has identified the Arsenal defender as the ideal player to fulfil his philosophy in defence.
Bellerin still has three-years remaining on his existing deal but Arsenal are determined to keep hold of one of their prized assets by offering him a bumper new deal.
“Yes, of course [I want to keep him]. That’s why I’m surprised by the speculation,” TalkSPORT quote Wenger as saying.
“Look, he has nearly three years to go and we always try get the players to the level where we think they deserve to be.
“So we try to extend, certainly, his contract. We will try to extend his contract as well, but for me, his long-term future is here.”
Only Bournemouth defender Adam Smith (15) has completed more dribbles of defenders in the Premier League than Bellerin (13).
For more stats on Hector Bellerin, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
