Arsene Wenger To Receive New Arsenal Contract - Report
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Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger is about to be offered a new contract to take him beyond his current deadline of summer 2011, according to a report.
The Times claims that the hierarchy at the Emirates are looking to tie the Frenchman down to an extended deal, not just due to his own merits but also so as to secure the futures of certain key youngsters.
Francesc Fabregas, while under contract for five years, is known to greatly prize his working relationship with his mentor, and if Wenger was to leave his future would look slightly less certain.
Meanwhile Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott's current contract talks are stalling, and without a solid presence on the manager's bench they may be tempted to move on without penning new deals.
However, Wenger's own merits are thought to be very much in demand, too. While the former Monaco man has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of leaving before his current deal runs out, the board are eager to keep him on in the longer term.
This is partially because Wenger is used to working with a playing budget that is modest by top four standards, and as Arsenal's loan debt repayment continues this is unlikely to change too drastically. Other coaches may be less willing to take on such a task.
Furthermore, Arsene enjoys a fruitful relationship with several of the club's power-brokers - but this is a double-edged sword. Former vice-chairman David Dein, a key Wenger ally, has departed, and with the prospect of what the Times calls a "takeover battle" between Alisher Usmanov and Stan Kroenke, Wenger may deem the future too uncertain to commit to anything just yet.
It's also worth noting that Arsene generally prefers to wait until the final year of his deal before signing a new one and it is far from certain that Arsenal and the Professor will reach an accord imminently.
Steve Michaels, Goal.com