Sunday 2 October 2016 12:40, UK
Arsene Wenger is "enjoying fluttering his eyelids" at the FA as his Arsenal contract runs down into its final months, journalists on the Sunday Supplement believe.
The Frenchman's deal expires in the summer and Wenger, who this week marked his 20th anniversary at the club, has been coy on his future amid links with the England job.
He got tongues wagging earlier this week at his press conference when did not rule out succeeding Sam Allardyce after his short reign as boss came to an abrupt end last week.
"My priority is to do well here," Wenger said. This has always been my club. If I am free one day, why not? But I am concentrated on my job."
Speaking on the Sunday Supplement on Sky Sports HD1, Mirror journalist John Cross said the Arsenal manager's flirtations with the FA was part of his plan to get a new deal at the Emirates.
"I think he is aiming for another contract [at Arsenal]," Cross said. "I think he is enjoying fluttering his eyelids at the FA and I think he’s done that consistently throughout his Arsenal career to always make sure he gets good contracts. He’s one of the best paid managers in the world, always has been.
"I remember being told this wonderful story when Sir Alex Ferguson was told how much Arsene Wenger was on at Arsenal he went absolutely mad and rang up the people at Arsenal and asked if it was true. And then David Gill followed it up with a call to Arsenal executives and to their disbelief found it was. He was on a different pay scale.
"Wenger is a very cute negotiator. I think he is enjoying the attention of the FA but I think his number one priority will be to stay and sign a new contract at Arsenal. I think he feels this team is on the verge of something good again and can go again. They are in the title race. I do think that they will be contenders for it but whether they can stay consistent, which has always been the problem, remains to perhaps be seen."
Arsenal have not lifted the Premier League title since 2005 and have won only tow FA Cups during that time. Telegraph writer Jason Burt said it was "in the balance" if he stayed at Arsenal but that he appeared stronger now than in recent years.
"I felt a couple of years ago that Wenger’s race was run and maybe he should have moved on then," Burt said. "But he has remarkable powers of recovery and we are seeing a stronger Arsene Wenger now than we did see a couple of years ago."
