Wenger quashes Hleb talk May 09 2008
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists there is "nothing" in reports that key midfielder Alexander Hleb is set to follow Mathieu Flamini out of the club.
Hleb's agent Nikolai Shpilevski was on Friday morning quoted claiming the 27-year-old "is leaving" the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Inter Milan most strongly linked as a possible destination.
Wenger has previously reacted angrily to rumoured interest from the Italians, even claiming he might report the Nerazurri for 'tapping up' the Belarus international.
But the Frenchman insisted on Friday there was no reason to suspect that Hleb would not be playing for the north London club next season.
Asked if there had been any developments, Wenger told Arsenal TV: "Frankly, no.
"You cannot stop people talking but at the moment there is nothing (to discuss).
"I believe that usually all the players want to stay, and I expect this team to say 'let's make a pact together, come back next year and win'.
"That's what I expect them to do and my priority is to keep the team together, add what I think can help us to even be better and then see from there."
Wenger also insisted there was nothing more the Gunners could have done to keep hold of out-of-contract Flamini, who signed a four-year deal with AC Milan this week.
Asked if everything possible had been done to retain the France international, Wenger said: "Yes. I believe that even Mathieu would concede that.
"We put him in the bracket of where we could go (financially, with a contract offer), and we made him that offer, but unfortunately it wasn't enough.
"We have to accept that because Mathieu was a good servant of the club for four years and he came without costing any transfer fee and left without costing any transfer fee, so he was free to go."
Wenger does not believe that Flamini's exit means a central midfielder must be brought in this summer, citing Denilson, Abou Diaby and Alex Song as possible replacements.
He is also hopeful that Brazilian international Gilberto Silva may still be at the club next term.
"I personally would like him to stay but he has to make a decision on that - I want him to feel comfortable," said Wenger.
"I like Gilberto and since he has been playing again he has shown how good he is as a player, but we will see."