Is this a hint Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is staying? Under-fire manager plots extension of French scouting network

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Arsene Wenger has hatched a plan to extend Arsenal’s French-based scouting network - a further indication he is planning to sign a new two-year contract.

Wenger has held talks with former player Gilles Grimandi, the club’s head French scout, to discuss how they can take advantage of the growing conveyor belt of talent emerging from his homeland.

Wenger has always found France a beneficial source of players; the likes of Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor all signed from French clubs.

Arsene Wenger has dropped another hint he will sign a new contract with Arsenal

And the Gunners boss believes there are more players to be unearthed across the Channel and has spoken to Grimandi, whose influence at the club has grown in recent seasons, to ensure Arsenal are ready to take advantage.

Arsenal already have concrete interests in Monaco duo Kylian Mbappe and Benjamin Mendy and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette.

Wenger’s forward thinking provides another indication towards him staying at the Emirates beyond the end of the season when his contract expires.

Speaking last week, Wenger waxed lyrical about French players, saying: ‘I'm convinced, maybe because I'm French, but at the moment the best players in the world are in France.

Wenger has spoken to scout Gilles Grimandi about extending the club's French talent network

Wenger's situation at Arsenal has become fractious with many fans calling for his exit - a plane was flown over the match against West Brom with a 'Wenger Out' banner trailing behind

‘The upcoming force in international football for me is France. You find top quality players in France now like you had in Brazil 20 years ago.

‘Every corner you can find a player who can play for the national team basically.

‘When you see the names that Deschamps has to select it is a nightmare to pick the best 20 and get that down to the best 11.'