Werder Bremen's Klaus Allofs hopeful that Arsenal target Per Mertesacker will stay

Werder Bremen general manager Klaus Allofs believes that German international Per Mertesacker could remain at the club, despite being linked with Arsenal.

According to reports, Arsenal had attempted to sign the defender during the January transfer window, but the deal did not materialise.

With Mertesacker now only having 12 months left on his contract, Arsene Wenger looks to have renewed his interest in the player in order to strengthen his backline. But despite apparent interest from the English club, Allofs is optimistic that the 26-year-old could ink a new contract with the Germany outfit.

"The chance of Per Mertesacker remaining with us is still alive," he told Deutsche Presseagentur.

"We have just dropped talks of a new deal for now. It's not off the cards. We have a season to go and we could easily start to discuss it during the new campaign."

The former Hannover player joined Werder Bremen in 2006, and has made 140 appearances for the club, and has been capped 75 times for Germany.

Arsenal have also been linked with moves for Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.