Gallas gets warning

William Gallas's future at Arsenal appears even more uncertain after the France defender's wage demands were branded 'extravagant' by the English Premier League giants yesterday.

The former Gunners' skipper, 32, is currently in talks with the club over an extension to his contract which ends in summer.

And while manager Arsene Wenger had hinted at altering their policy of offering only one-year deals to players in the latter stages of their career, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood appears opposed to that concept.

He told reporters he would only be prepared to extend Gallas's deal by a further year, and warned the Frenchman that the club would not be held to ransom.

"His demands are quite extravagant and I don't think we are prepared to go along with it," Hill-Wood said.

"We would very much like him to stay, but I think for one year, and not on the money he wants. He is a good player, but you have got to draw the line somewhere.

"If he can get the money somewhere else, good luck to him. We still hope he will sign, but if he doesn't, he doesn't.

"We have got to look forward and the cost of players isn't just in transfers, it is in the salaries as well. And we analyse these quite carefully, because we don't want to go bankrupt."

According to the report, France international Gallas has demanded a two-year deal and a salary of £80,000 a week.