Arsenal face a fight to keep hold of Santi Cazorla after Juventus allegedly attempted to talk the playmaker into turning down a contract extension at the Emirates, according to "?Calciomercato Web.
The Italian news outlet claims that the defending Serie A champions have tried to sway Cazorla's representatives into forcing the midfielder to rebuff Arsenal's attempts at offering him a new deal to remain in North London.
Cazorla's existing contract runs until the end of the season, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is eager to tie one of his veteran stars down for the foreseeable future.
Calciomercato?
Santi Cazorla could join Juventus as a free agent in Jan for freepic.twitter.com/QId0T1EYel
Juventus are said to be waiting in the wings to prise the 31-year-old from the Premier League, and want to entice Cazorla to Turin by agreeing a pre-contract agreement with him ahead of a free transfer move in July 2017.
However, Cazorla recently told Spanish website "?Cadena SER that he was happy to remain with Arsenal, and described his current employers as a 'great club' when quizzed over where his future might lie.
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The ex-Malaga player said: "I'm fine, I feel important. I have the confidence of the coach and my team-mates. If Arsenal want me to continue, then I'm happy here. This is a great club."
Cazorla joined Arsenal from Malaga in a deal worth around £16m in the summer of 2012.
The Spain international has gone on to amass almost 180 appearances for the Gunners, with a tally of 29 goals and 44 assists in that time.
A knee injury sustained in November 2015 ensured that Cazorla missed a large chunk of the 2015/16 campaign, but he returned four months later to help Arsenal finish second in the Premier League standings last term.
Cazorla has also enjoyed some silverware during his time at the Emirates stadium, with two FA Cups and two Community Shield triumphs adding to the 2008 and 2012 European Championship medals he has accrued from his international career.
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