Arsenal will resist interest from Bayern Munich in defender Laurent Koscielny after it emerged the defender is on a longer contract than first thought.

Bayern are believed to be weighing up a move for the 30-year-old having held a longstanding interest in the player since monitoring him during his contract negotiations in 2014.

It was suggested at the time that Koscielny agreed a three-year extension taking him up until next summer and German newspaper Bild reported this morning that Carlo Ancelotti's side were ready to capitalise on the situation by tabling a bid.

However, Standard Sport understands that Koscielny is in fact under contract at Emirates Stadium until 2019 and there has even been an indication that he could stay beyond that date if his form endures.



Bayern will be short of defensive cover if Medhi Benatia leaves the club. The 29-year-old has become frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities having made just 14 starts for the club in all competitions during a campaign also blighted by injury.

Bayern's signing of Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund is a further blow to his ambition and Koscielny is seen as a possible alternative should he decide to depart.

However, Koscielny would also find it difficult to displace Hummels and Jerome Boateng at the heart of Bayern's defence and would most likely prefer to stay put, especially given he is a regular at Arsenal.

Arsenal kits through the years - In pictures 28 show all Arsenal kits through the years - In pictures 1/28 1920-28 The captains of Arsenal and Newcastle United shake hands before a match at Highbury in London in 1923 Topical Press Agency/Getty Images 2/28 1930-31 Arsenal captain Tom Parker holding the FA Cup after beating Huddersfield 2-0 at Wembley on 26th April 1930 Central Press/Getty Images 3/28 1935-43 Six Arsenal FC internationals who appeared for England in 1936: Left to right: C G Male, E J Drake, C S Bastin, E A Hapgood, E R Bowden, and W J Crayston on 31st January 1936 J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images 4/28 1967-69 Norman Hunter of Leeds United tackles David Court during first division match at Highbury in 1969 Allsport/Getty Images 5/28 1978-82 Brian McDermott in action Allsport/Getty Images 6/28 1984-86 Charlie Nicholas taking on Everton's Kevin Ratcliffe at Highbury stadium, in April 1986 Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images 7/28 1986-88 Alan Smith takes on Spurs' Gary Mabbutt at White Hart Lane in 1987 Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images 8/28 1988-90 David Rocastle against Newcastle United in Arsenal's title-winning season of 1988-89 Allsport/Getty Images 9/28 1990-92 Paul Merson during the Charity Shield against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in 1991 David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images 10/28 1991-93 It's not always been in the best possible taste, as proved with Lee Dixon wearing the notorious away kit of the early 90s Ben Radford/Allsport/Getty Images 11/28 1992-94 Kevin Campbell in March 1993 Shaun Botterill/Allsport/Getty Images 12/28 1994-96 Dennis Bergkamp in action against Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury in November 1995 13/28 1996-98 Patrick Viera Henri Szwarc/Bongarts/Getty Image 14/28 1998-2000 Lee Dixon scoring against Everton at Highbury Phil Cole/Allsport/Getty Images 15/28 2000-02 Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 2001 FA Cup Final against Liverpool Clive Brunskill /Allsport/Getty Images 16/28 2002-04 Patrick Vieira in the Invincibles season Clive Mason/Getty Images 17/28 2004-05 Arsenal celebrate after winning the shoot-out during the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United John Peters/Getty Images 18/28 2005-06 Ashley Cole of Arsenal in the redcurrant strip worn as a tribute to the final season at Highbury Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 19/28 2006-08 Thierry Henry Phil Cole/Getty Images 20/28 2008-10 Cesc Fabregas 21/28 2010-11 Robin van Persie Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images 22/28 2012-13 Lukas Podolski (L) of Arsenal celebrates with team mate Per Mertesacker (C) and Aaron Ramsey (R) after scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic at Emirates Stadium on May 14, 2013 Shaun Botterill/Getty Images 23/28 2014-15 Olivier Giroud Jamie McDonald/Getty Images 24/28 2015-16 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 25/28 2016-17 REUTERS 26/28 2017-18 Puma 27/28 2018-19 PUMA 28/28 2019-20 1/28 1920-28 The captains of Arsenal and Newcastle United shake hands before a match at Highbury in London in 1923 Topical Press Agency/Getty Images 2/28 1930-31 Arsenal captain Tom Parker holding the FA Cup after beating Huddersfield 2-0 at Wembley on 26th April 1930 Central Press/Getty Images 3/28 1935-43 Six Arsenal FC internationals who appeared for England in 1936: Left to right: C G Male, E J Drake, C S Bastin, E A Hapgood, E R Bowden, and W J Crayston on 31st January 1936 J. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images 4/28 1967-69 Norman Hunter of Leeds United tackles David Court during first division match at Highbury in 1969 Allsport/Getty Images 5/28 1978-82 Brian McDermott in action Allsport/Getty Images 6/28 1984-86 Charlie Nicholas taking on Everton's Kevin Ratcliffe at Highbury stadium, in April 1986 Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images 7/28 1986-88 Alan Smith takes on Spurs' Gary Mabbutt at White Hart Lane in 1987 Simon Bruty/Allsport/Getty Images 8/28 1988-90 David Rocastle against Newcastle United in Arsenal's title-winning season of 1988-89 Allsport/Getty Images 9/28 1990-92 Paul Merson during the Charity Shield against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in 1991 David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images 10/28 1991-93 It's not always been in the best possible taste, as proved with Lee Dixon wearing the notorious away kit of the early 90s Ben Radford/Allsport/Getty Images 11/28 1992-94 Kevin Campbell in March 1993 Shaun Botterill/Allsport/Getty Images 12/28 1994-96 Dennis Bergkamp in action against Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury in November 1995 13/28 1996-98 Patrick Viera Henri Szwarc/Bongarts/Getty Image 14/28 1998-2000 Lee Dixon scoring against Everton at Highbury Phil Cole/Allsport/Getty Images 15/28 2000-02 Fredrik Ljungberg of Arsenal celebrates scoring the opening goal in the 2001 FA Cup Final against Liverpool Clive Brunskill /Allsport/Getty Images 16/28 2002-04 Patrick Vieira in the Invincibles season Clive Mason/Getty Images 17/28 2004-05 Arsenal celebrate after winning the shoot-out during the 2005 FA Cup Final against Manchester United John Peters/Getty Images 18/28 2005-06 Ashley Cole of Arsenal in the redcurrant strip worn as a tribute to the final season at Highbury Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 19/28 2006-08 Thierry Henry Phil Cole/Getty Images 20/28 2008-10 Cesc Fabregas 21/28 2010-11 Robin van Persie Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images 22/28 2012-13 Lukas Podolski (L) of Arsenal celebrates with team mate Per Mertesacker (C) and Aaron Ramsey (R) after scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic at Emirates Stadium on May 14, 2013 Shaun Botterill/Getty Images 23/28 2014-15 Olivier Giroud Jamie McDonald/Getty Images 24/28 2015-16 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 25/28 2016-17 REUTERS 26/28 2017-18 Puma 27/28 2018-19 PUMA 28/28 2019-20

Manager Arsene Wenger remains open to signing another defender during the current transfer window but it is believed that Koscielny is a key part of his future plans.



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