Trabelsi offered Arsenal contract

Tunisia defender Hatem Trabelsi has been offered a contract at the English side Arsenal, according to his agent. The 29-year-old has been a long-term transfer target for Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

The right-back is available on a free transfer as his contract with Dutch club Ajax expires next month.

Wenger is keen to sign Trabelsi after learning his injured Cameroon full-back Lauren will not recover in time for the start of the season.

Trabelsi boosted his reputation with a starring role for Tunisia at the World Cup and his agent Franklin Sedoc confirmed Arsenal were leading a host of English Premiership clubs in the chase to sign him.

Sedoc told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "There's a contract ready for him at Arsenal. I can show you that. "I get calls from English clubs every day. Manchester City and West Ham have been in contact. "Hatem definitely wants to play in the Champions League and he's not going to stay in Holland."

Trabelsi announced his retirement from international football on Saturday.