ARSENAL are reportedly ready to double Hector Bellerin’s wages to fend off interest from Barcelona and Manchester City.
The right-back has become one of the top defenders in the country and has attracted glances from elsewhere.
Former club Barcelona are keen on bringing him back to Spain while Pep Guardiola wants him in Manchester.
But the Sun report that Arsene Wenger is ready to nearly double his £50,000-a-week wages to £96,000-a-week.
Shkodran Mustafi impersonates Mesut Ozil during Arsenal training
Fri, October 14, 2016Express Sport brings you the best pictures from Arsenal's latest training session at London Colney ahead of Saturday's clash with Swansea City (3pm)
Express Sport brings you the best pictures from Arsenal's latest training session ahead of their Premier League clash with Swansea City on Saturday (3pm)
Wenger said: “Hector has nearly three years of his contract to go — and that is why I’m surprised by the speculation. We will try to extend his contract because, for me, his long-term future is here.”
Bellerin, 21, moved to Arsenal in 2011 from the Barcelona academy and broke into Wenger’s side in 2014 due to injuries to Matthieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers.
However the Spain international has surpassed both of those in the pecking order with Chambers now out on loan to find first team football.
Related videos
And Wenger is desperate to hang on to his young star.
He added: “I don’t think that you have to play where you were born. Modern life is not like that and Hector has integrated very well with the values of our club. He came to us at a very young age.
“His progress has been absolutely spectacular because let us not forget that in his first game for Arsenal he had a nightmare.”