Arsenal 'hopeful' Wenger will sign new deal

Arsenal are optimistic they can persuade Arsene Wenger to sign a contract extension next month.

Negotiations to tie down the Gunners manager have been given greater urgency following Jose Antonio Camacho’s decision to resign from the top job at Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants are reportedly interested in Wenger but Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood is not worried.

He said: “We’ve had a handful of meetings with his people about a new contract.

“As far as I’m aware everything is proceeding positively from his point of view and ours.

“He said he will decide in October and it’s September now and I’m very hopeful we’ll come to an agreement with him next month.”

In a pointed reference to the conditions at Madrid which have seen them go through three coaches in under three seasons, Hill-Wood added: “I believe he’s very happy at Arsenal. He doesn’t have to put up with any interference and we don’t buy any players he doesn’t know about.

“He’s left alone and he gets a reasonable salary. If I was a betting man, I’d put my money on him staying with us and not going to Real Madrid,” he told the Daily Star.