Veteran midfielder keen to stay with the Gunners.
The agent of Arsenal star Mikel Arteta has played down talk of the player making a return to Spain with Athletic Bilbao this summer, according to Sky Sports.
Reports coming from Spain have suggested that Bilbao are lining up a move for the former Everton man in the wake of Ander Herrera’s recent transfer to Manchester United.
Arteta’s long-term future at Arsenal has been the subject of speculation, with the 32-year-old entering the final year of his contract and as yet no talks over a new deal.
However, Arteta’s agent, Inaki Ibanez, has insisted that there have been no talks held with the Basque side and that his client will not be looking to leave the Emirates Stadium in the near future.
Asked about interest from Bilbao, Ibanez said: “This is totally false. Mikel has no interest in leaving Arsenal.”
Arteta began his career at Bilbao’s near-rivals Real Sociedad before ovine on to Everton and then Arsenal.
He would fit in line with Bilbao’s strict ‘Basque only’ policy and would provide some world experience that the club sometimes lacks.
Arteta has been at the club since 2011, and has gone on to make 134 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals during that time.
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