Arsene Wenger believes star midfielder Mesut Ozil is keen to extend his contract with the Gunners but also warns if the club can’t break the bank there is a possibility that the German could leave the emirates.

Ozil, who is in the penultimate year of his current deal with Arsenal, is fiercely negotiating an improved deal as the club desperately try to tie down the German international to a long term contract.

“I don’t think he needs convincing,” Wenger said. “He wants to stay here. If you have a good bank, call me,” the Frenchman then joked.

The German maestro earns a reported basic wage of £140,000 a week but he is seeking a substantial rise to reinforce his status as one of the club’s marquee players.

Despite joking about negotiations, Wenger kept his cards close to his chest when asked if the club is close to agreeing on a deal: “We keep that discreet. At the due time we will come out with that,” he said.

“Am I confident he will sign? It’s not my main worry now. We want to keep our best players, of course. The more I say that the more he is in a stronger position,” Wenger added.

“It’s not just money. Arsenal can win titles, of course. But that’s what we have to show.

“We are in a league where Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, everybody, fights and you cannot guarantee that to anybody.”

Ozil’s succulent volley finish against Swansea on his 28th birthday illustrated why he is establishing himself as one of the few genuinely world class players in this division and why Arsene Wenger knows he will have to pay top dollar to keep him at the club.

Along with Alexis Sanchez, Ozil also has two years of his current contract to run and Wenger is wily enough after 20 years at the club to know promises of riches probably exceed trophy potential when trying to build and maintain a strongest possible squad.

Having done decent business in the summer, the priority for Arsenal, apart