Arsenal: Wellington Silva 'will be handed chance in pre-season' amid ongoing contract talks

Arsenal loanee Wellington Silva has claimed his agent is in talks with the Gunners over a contract renewal and has been told he will be part of the club's pre-season plans in the summer.

Silva, 22, is currently on loan at Almeria in La Liga and is yet to make a single appearance for his parent club since signing from Fluminense in 2011.

Complications over the winger's work permit and passport have prevented him from playing in England, but a breakthrough in October 2014 now sees the Brazilian free to link up with Arsenal when his loan spell in Spain expires.

Although his current contract is set to end in the summer of 2016, Silva still believes his long-term future lies in north London, insisting he has already been told he will have the opportunity to win a role in the first team ahead of the 2015-16 season.

"My representative spoke with me recently because we are dealing with my [contract] renewal," Silva told Spanish daily Marca. "I only have one year left at Arsenal. They want me to carry out pre-season there and I am very happy about this news. But now I am at Almeria and my thoughts are here.

"Since Arsenal signed me I have had the dream of being able to play with them. I hope to do pre-season well in order to stay there."

Arsenal had to wait until Silva turned 18 before they could agree a deal to sign him and complications in securing the relevant paperwork allowing him to play in the UK further delayed his arrival.

The winger has instead spent the past four years on a succession of loan spells across Spain at Levante, Alcoyano, Ponferradina and Murcia. His latest stint brought him to Almeria in the summer of 2014, where he has since started 15 La Liga games, providing four assists.