Arsenal Favourites to Sign Darryl Janmaat after Defender Rejects Contract Extension - Report

Arsenal have received a massive boost in their pursuance of Feyenoord full-back Darryl Janmaat with the player refusing a contract extension with the Dutch giants, according to the Metro.

The Gunners are long term admirers of the 24-year-old and are likely to make a swoop in the summer as replacement for Bacary Sagna, who is yet to extend his contract with the north London club. Sagna's contract with Arsenal ends at the end of this season and the player is likely to make his way out of the club if Arsene Wenger is not willing to match his claims for a new contract.

The defender was valued at a price of £7m but with his contract expiring in 2015, the price is expected to be halved, with the club rushing to extract some money from the player's transfer than let him leave free. The player is likely to travel with the Dutch squad to Brazil where he has a chance to impress, something which may increase his price in the market.

However, the Gunners are looking to swoop in quickly and complete a deal for the player before any sort of delay so as to fend off interest from other interested parties. Arsenal have Carl Jenkinson as back-up for Sagna, but the England international has failed to command a place in the starting line-up on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have made their way into their first final in over three years after beating Championship side Wigan at the Wembley on penalties in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Wenger believes the win will give the Gunners a major boost in the final five games of the season and secure a top four spot.

"It's important mentally that we didn't go out tonight. If you imagine the consequences of going out tonight, it's quite worrying. I believe we have a good team, we have many players out and this morning Oxlade-Chamberlain was still not sure to be available, Gibbs was not available, plus all the other players who are out. We have a good squad but recently we were missing too many players," Wenger told www.arsenal.com.