Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has no plans to let striker Joel Campbell leave the club during the current transfer window.
The Costa Rica international spent the second half of last season on-loan at Liga BBVA side Villarreal after finding first-team opportunities limited at the Emirates Stadium and has been linked with a permanent exit from the club this summer.
However, Wenger revealed in his press conference on Friday that he is hopeful of retaining the services of the 23-year-old for the season:
“At the moment he is here and personally I would like to keep him,” the Frenchman said [via the club’s official website].
“I will have to sit down with Joel because I rate him highly as a player and personally if he stays here I am very happy,” Wenger added.
It remains to be seen where Campbell fits in to the Gunners squad should he stay as in all three attacking roles that he can occupy there is strong competition for places and with the club reportedly in the transfer market for a new centre-forward, it’s unlikely he will be trusted to lead the line ahead of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.
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