The top-rated French midfielder has yet to sign a new contract
at Emirates Stadium despite the fact that negotiations opened in
December.
Arsenal have yet to meet his financial demands - said to be
in the region of £55,000 per week - and the player is getting
frustrated.
Bayern Munich have joined Juventus and AC Milan among the clubs
showing a keen interest in the 24-year-old, with all three well
aware that his existing deal with Arsenal expires in the
summer.
Wenger, however, insists that his landsman has his heart set on
staying.“We are getting close to 'yes' or 'no',” Wenger
revealed.
“He wants to stay and I believe him. But as long as he has not
signed, he is free to sign where he wants. We have set ourselves a
target at the end of April to finalise the situation, one way or
the other.
“April is an absolute deadline because, afterwards, we have to
make decisions in the transfer market."
There was also a veiled but very clear warning,
though. "My first target is to keep the team together, but we
want to continue to respect our wage structure. That is very
important. Flamini has to fit in that,” concluded Wenger.