Chelsea confident of signing Oxlade-Chamberlain after he turns down Arsenal contract

Wenger was determined to retain the 24-year-old and the Gunners offered Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a final contract offer worth £180,000 a week to place the England international among the highest-ever wage earners at the club.

However, Sky Sports reported that the midfielder turned down the deal, which could force Arsenal to offload the player rather than lose him on a free next summer. 

Chelsea are front-runners in the race for the midfielder and, according to the Telegraph, Conte's side have launched a £35 million bid.

Wenger, who met with Oxlade-Chamberlain on Thursday, said: 'I want him to stay and be one of the big players of the future of this club. He is one of the players this team has to be built around. I want him to commit to the club and to be one of the carrier of the values of our team'.

But the Ox will not be persuaded by big-money contracts. He wants to feel important and his decision not to sign a new deal is about his desire to further his career and become an England regular.

Chelsea's Italian manager is personally pushing to sign the Arsenal man, who can play at wing-back, central midfield or on the flank. His versatility is one his more appealing features, which is why he has attracted interest from Chelsea, as well as Liverpool.

Wenger will tell the player and his representatives in the next 24 hours if he will allow him to leave or he will let him see out the final year of his contract.