Espanyol goal keeper Kiko Casilla has told Spanish media he will not leave the La Liga club this summer despite reports linking him with a move to Arsenal.
The 27-year-old former Real Madrid youth player joined Espanyol from Madrid’s B-team in 2007.
Despite having a year remaining on his contract, reports suggest Espanyol are looking to offload the stopper as they would rather cash-in now than run the risk of losing out financially should he be drawn away on a free transfer next year.
But, Casilla has dug his heels in and insisted he will neither leave the La Liga club this summer nor depart when his contract expires in a year’s time on a tree transfer, instead expressing his desire to extend his contract with Espanyol.
He told Spanish media AS: “This summer I will not leave. My first intention is to complete this year that I have left (on my contract) and then to continue for more years.
“If I leave, I am not going to leave for free. But I do not want to leave.”
Casilla’s Premier League fanciers Arsenal are in the market for a second goal-keeper following their loss of Lukasz Fabianski to Swansea City at the end of last season.
With Casilla seemingly happy where he is, the Gunners are still hot on Norwich City stopper John Ruddy, who they have been courting for a few months now.
The north Londoners are believed to have resumed talks with the Canaries over an agreement for the £6m-rated keeper, with their initial approach back in May having been put on hold whilst Arsenal focussed their attentions in relentless pursuit of their priority signing – Barcelona hitman Alexis Sanchez – who was signed, sealed and delivered to the Emirates for a record fee of £37.5m last week.