Robin van Persie will not begin contract negotiations with Arsenal until the end of the season, reports suggest.

The Dutch striker has 18 months left on his current deal, and Arsene Wenger is eager to sort out an extension.

Reports this week suggested that van Persie had begun negotiations with the Gunners, but The Mirror reports that the 28-year-old will make the North London club wait until next year before talks commence.

The Arsenal captain has attracted interest from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, but Wenger says that he is "confident" that van Persie will remain at the Emirates.