Arsenal appear to be growing impatient with Arsene Wenger’s indecision over his future as manager after it emerged that the club want a final answer by the end of the month so that they can press on with plans to replace him if he ends his 20-year reign.

Wenger has made his intention clear that he will make his mind up in either April or May, and has stressed that he is not afraid of walking away from Arsenal if both he and the club feel it is the right option. With his contract up for renewal at the end of the season, Arsenal have put a two-year extension to Wenger that remains available, but he is yet to inform them of whether he will sign it or not.

Arsenal have so far appeared relaxed despite the threat of their manager walking out on the club with no replacement lined up, but The Sun reports on Friday that the board have now told Wenger that they want a meeting with him during the international break at the end of the month.

Wenger insists he will remain in management next season, be it with Arsenal or another club, and it’s been reported that he would prefer to remain with a team capable of challenging in the Champions League rather than moving away from Europe.

He played down any interest in the Barcelona job, with Luis Enrique set to leave at the end of the season after announcing his exit earlier in the week.

Wenger spoke on Thursday morning to confirm that he is yet to reach a decision on what he will do at the end of the season, and as The Independent reported last month, those close to him still have no idea which way he is leaning towards.

Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Show all 11 1 /11 Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Joachim Löw Age: 58

Current club: German national team

Honours: Austrian Bundesliga, 2001/02

Fifa World Cup, 2014

Fifa Confederations Cup, 2017 Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Mikel Arteta Age: 35

Current club: Manchester City Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Brendan Rodgers Age: 44

Current club: Celtic

Honours: Championship playoffs

Scottish League Cup

Scottish Premiership Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Leonardo Jardim Age: 42

Current club: Monaco

Honours: Segunda Liga

Superleague Greece

Greek Cup

Ligue 1 Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Patrick Vieira Age: 40

Current club: New York City FC

Honours: None Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Diego Simeone Age: 47

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Honours: Argentine Primera Division x2 (Estudiantes de La Plata and River Plate)

La Liga

Copa del Rey

Spanish Supercup

Europa League

Uefa Super Cup Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Domenico Tedesco Age: 32

Current club: Schalke Bongarts/Getty Images Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Massimiliano Allegri Age: 49

Current club: Juventus

Honours: Serie C1 (Sassuolo)

Serie A x3 (AC Milan, 2x Juventus)

Italian Super Cup x 2 (AC Milan, Juventus)

Coppa Italia x 2 (Juventus) Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Thomas Tuchel Age: 44

Current club: Free agent

Honours: DFB-Pokal Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Luis Enrique Age: 47

Current club: Free agent

Honours: La Liga x2 Copa del Rey x3 Supercopa de Espana Champions League Super Cup Club World Cup Getty Arsenal candidates to replace Arsene Wenger Carlo Ancelotti Age: 58

Current club: Free agent Intertoto Cup (Juventus) Serie A (AC Milan) Coppa Italia (Ac Milan) Supercoppa Italiana (AC Milan) Champions League x3 (AC Milan x2, Real Madrid) Super Cup x2 (AC Milan) Club World Cup (AC Milan) Premier League (Chelsea) FA Cup (Chelsea) Ligue 1 (Paris Saint-Germain) Copa del Rey (Real Madrid) Bundesliga (Bayern Munich) DFL Supercup x2 (Bayern Munich) Bongarts/Getty Images

“No decision has been made and there is no need to come back on to that at the moment,” Wenger said this week.

“I have been here for 20 years and had many opportunities to leave. I don’t need to convince anyone — my preference has always been Arsenal.