Arsene Wenger has dismissed suggestions Tottenham have tabled a £4million bid for 22-year-old France midfielder Lassana Diarra.

But Wenger said: "I had nobody from Spurs on the phone and I didn't reject any bids from Spurs.

"We'll keep [our conversations] close and what we do inside [the club] - but if you ask my opinion, I want him to stay.

"You don't make a player come on August 31 and then want to sell him on January 1. I want to keep Diarra but we'll see.

"The bad luck is that he arrived when our training had started. I rate him highly and, if it's down to me, I want him to stay.

"I can understand his frustration because he is worried about the national team, but I bought him in and it was long, hard work to get him here."