Arsene Wenger expects Kieran Gibbs to stay at Arsenal - but remains silent on Alexis Sanchez

Arsene Wenger hopes Kieran Gibbs will remain at Arsenal, despite reports suggesting the full-back will leave at the end of the season.

Gibbs, 27, has spent his entire career at the North London club, barring a brief loan spell at Norwich City in 2008, but in recent seasons has lost his place in the first team to Nacho Monreal. His current deal with the Premier League club expires in the summer of 2018 but, according to The Mirror, the club have still not opened talks over a new contract.

Reports have suggested Arsenal have begun discussions with Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin but at a press conference on Friday (16 December), Wenger remained coy when quizzed on the French pair. When asked about Gibbs' future he provided a similar response, but stressed he hopes a deal can be struck.

"As soon as we have some news, we will inform you," Wenger told reporters. On Gibbs, he added: "It is the same case. We cannot make a case for every single contract negotiation. Personally I think that Gibbs should stay here."

As has become routine, Wenger was also grilled on the future of Alexis Sanchez. The Chile international has a contract until 2018, with the Gunners still to agree terms over a new deal with their most-prized asset.

The former Barcelona star has this week been linked with becoming the next high profile star to swap one of Europe's major leagues for China. Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, now in charge of Hebei China Fortune, has been quoted as saying by The Sun: "If Alexis wants to come, we have a club for him right now. He can come to join us in China immediately."

The Sun adds Pellegrini and Hebei are ready to make Sanchez the best paid player in the world with a staggering offer of £500,000 a week.

At Friday's press conference, Wenger refused to provide an offer on his own club's contract talks with the player, but appeared unconcerned with the financial backing of clubs from the Far East.

"I don't know. If people want to go to China, they go to China. You can understand that I have completely different worries than China today ahead of the Manchester City game."