Barcelona’s interest in Mikel Arteta is genuine, but the Arsenal manager is understood to be on track to extend his contract with the Gunners.

Sami Mokbel reports for the Daily Mail that Barcelona have a genuine interest in Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, but there is confidence at the Emirates Stadium that the coach wouldn’t be tempted by such a move.

All parties are reportedly relaxed about Arteta’s contract situation, despite his current deal expiring in 18 months.

It is understood that Arteta will extend that deal, and he was left bewildered by reports that he might leave his contract early.

Mokbel concludes that Arteta is committed to bringing major trophies to the Gunners.

Spanish outlet Sport were the trouble-making source of the rumour in the first place, claiming Arteta was considering terminating his Arsenal contract at the end of the season.

Sport claimed that Arteta had already communicated this intention to his entourage, linking the Arsenal boss with a move to Barcelona.

But Sky Sports then reported that Arteta is going nowhere, with no plans to leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

On Monday morning, the Evening Standard repeated that Arteta has no plans to walk away from Arsenal in 2024, remaining committed to the Gunners.

Arteta then spoke out publicly to deny the claims, saying in a press conference: “No, that’s totally fake news what you read yesterday.

“I don’t know where it’s coming from and it’s totally untrue. I’m really upset about it.

“I could not believe [it] I don’t know where it’s coming from and it’s got no source, it’s got nothing. I think we have to be very cautious when you talk about personal things to put it in the way it was put yesterday.

“That’s something that we cannot control [the rumours linking him with Barcelona], this is part of football.

“But that’s something very different to someone putting a statement about something that I’m doing [leaving Arsenal at the end of the season], that’s very very different.”