EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal have defused the threat of losing two of their most influential players after agreeing extensions to the contracts of Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour.
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Treble boy Ray Parlour gets a pat on the back... and then some
(JamieMcDonald/Allsport) |
The Highbury club have succeeded in securing the long-term future of England midfielder Parlour, while Bergkamp expects to sign his new deal within the next 10 days.
Parlour, 27, is likely to finish his playing career at Arsenal since the terms of his new deal extend until the summer of 2004. His agent, Steve Kutner, confirmed the news and revealed that his client put his loyalty to the club before personal gain.
'Ray has signed an extension with the club and it's true that a player of his calibre could have accepted a more lucrative offer to move,' said Kutner. 'Ray never wanted to leave Arsenal, though, and is delighted that it has been sorted out.'
Bergkamp had been holding back on a contract extension since the summer, raising fears that he might see out his current deal and then engineer the final, lucrative transfer of his career as a free agent at the end of the season.
The Dutchman's failure to hold down a regular first-team place this season had heightened uncertainty about the 31-year-old, who has been engaged in a long-running dispute with the club regarding the length of the new deal.
Bergkamp had grown increasingly unhappy over the protracted nature of the negotiations, a factor his agent, Rob Jansen, believes has contributed to the indifferent form that has brought him just two Premiership goals from 12 starts.
In October, Bergkamp launched an uncharacteristic attack on Arsenal, accusing them of showing him a lack of respect.
But Soccernet understands that Bergkamp will shortly sign a two-year extension that includes a £5,000-a-week increase on the £25,000-a-week package he agreed when he arrived from Inter Milan in the summer of 1995.
Jansen said: 'This has been a long process and Dennis can understand why Arsenal fans have grown anxious. But things are now looking good and I am as certain as I can be that Dennis will sign a new contract within the next week or so.
'Dennis has always wanted to stay at Arsenal. All this has been on his mind and it has not helped his football this season.'
Theoretically, Bergkamp is free to talk to other clubs across the Continent from January 1. Initially set a Christmas Day deadline to make up his mind, he will now be given two weeks' grace.
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