LONDON Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger is trying to persuade Dennis Bergkamp to agree to a new contract with the club, British media reported on Monday.
The 31-year-old Dutch international striker, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season, has been in talks with the club for months to negotiate a new deal but nothing has been finalized yet.
"Dennis is still very much wanted here, but I would like to see his contract talks settled before we go back into the Champions League," Wenger was quoted as saying in the Guardian newspaper.
"It is important for him because we have to get him concentrated on the games with no distractions. He is a high-class professional and not a man obsessed with money. That is not the problem, nor is the length of his next contract." Wenger also confirmed the delay had nothing to do with Bergkamp seeking a guarantee about his role in the team.
The Dutchman has started only 11 of Arsenal's 24 games this season due to injuries and the success of Nwankwo Kanu on the pitch.
"Dennis knows that we now have four top-class strikers at the club and I can play only two of them at a time. Whenever we've tried to start three it hasn't worked," the Frenchman said.
"Dennis always wants to start up front and is not so happy coming on as substitute or playing wide. I can understand that.
"In his last start against Southampton he had a great game, but he was injured with a tight hamstring before we played Bayern Munich on Tuesday and I chose Kanu instead.
"Kanu did well and it was a difficult decision who to pick against Newcastle. Both could have felt an injustice to be left out." (Reuter)