Arsenal 'withdraw Aaron Ramsey contract offer'

Arsenal have reportedly withdrawn their offer of a new contract for midfielder Aaron Ramsey after talks between the two parties broke down.

Negotiations over a new deal for the Welsh international have been rumbling on behind the scenes for a number of months now, but no agreement has been reached with Ramsey having entered the final year of his current contract.

The 27-year-old was understood to be unhappy with the terms on the table from Arsenal and was holding out for a bigger pay rise, despite preferring to extend his 10-year stay at the Emirates Stadium.

However, The Mirror reports that discussions have now completely broken down, with Arsenal suddenly withdrawing their previous contract offer.

The development means that Ramsey now looks likely to leave the club on a free transfer next summer, or for a cut-price deal in January.

Arsenal are understood to have rejected a £50m bid for the midfielder this summer, and there will be no shortage of interest in his services with Juventus, Chelsea, Manchester United and Lazio all monitoring his situation.

Ramsey would be free to talk to foreign clubs over a new contract from January if he does not agree an extension before that.