Pires to mull over one-year deal

Robert Pires is continuing to mull over the offer of a one-year contract extension from Arsenal and has not had talks with Rangers…

Robert Pires is continuing to mull over the offer of a one-year contract extension from Arsenal and has not had talks with Rangers over a move to Scotland, according to the players' agent.

The midfielder's present deal expires in the summer, and the 32-year-old World Cup winner has so far delayed signing for an additional 12 months in the hope of securing a longer-term contract.

Reports have suggested Pires could be on his way to the Scottish giants to link up with his fellow Frenchman Paul Le Guen, who will take charge at Ibrox at the end of the season.

However, agent Stephane Courbis insisted: "It is not true. We are only talking with Arsenal for the moment. Robert has a proposition from Arsenal in his hands and he is thinking about it. For the moment he does not know," Courbis told BBC Sport.

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Arsenal have a policy of not offering more than one-year extensions to players over 30, and manager Arsene Wenger maintains that stance will continue.

However, the Gunners boss is hopeful Pires - who scored the opening goal in Saturday's 3-0 win over Charlton - will follow the lead of Dennis Bergkamp and commit his future to Arsenal.

"I always said that I want Robert to stay for at least another year and I hope he will make that decision sooner rather than later, but he will always be an important player for Arsenal when he plays," Wenger commented.

"It is a difficult decision, yes, but he has an example in front of him in Dennis Bergkamp who at 32 accepted that, and at 37 (this year) he is still with us.

"We have shown we are loyal to our players. Because (Lee) Dixon, (Martin) Keown, (Tony) Adams, they all stayed until they were 36 or 37 and not many big clubs will take their players as high as that.

"Robert has a choice to make and I want him to make the right one and hope we know soon." Wenger added: "He is at an age where he would like three years. If I was in his place I would as well.

"He will get one and, of course, he wants to play as well. Robert will always be part of my plans, but we will stick to our policy. We will offer him a good year and then he has to make the decision whether or not he stays."