Birmingham’s manager, Gianfranco Zola, has confirmed that the club want to extend Krystian Bielik’s loan for another season.

• Bielik was voted man of the match this weekend
• 19-year-old Pole cost Arsenal £1.91m in 2015
• He has started and finished the last four Birmingham games, picking up two yellows

“It’s under consideration, obviously he is impressing,” the Italian told the Birmingham Mail.

“He is a player that every time I have played him he is doing quite well and he is getting better and better. We will try.

“It is not only in our hands because obviously I know Arsenal value him very, very much and it will depend if they are interested in him having another year in Birmingham.

“I know he likes it here and would like to stay.”

Bielik, for his part, has already expressed a desire to return to the Championship next season. He also couldn’t hide how much he is enjoying life under the Chelsea legend.

The main question at the minute is not really if Arsenal would let him return, nor if the player wants that but if Zola still be manager next season.

Sitting six points above the relegation zone, they were up and around the play-off places earlier in the season. They have failed to win any of their last seven league games, losing four and drawing three.