Athletic Bilbao are adamant they will not sell Fernando Llorente during the January transfer window, despite the forward's contract set to expire in the summer, while Thomas Vermaelen expressed his hope that Theo Walcott will sign a new deal with the club.
Just like Walcott, Llorente's future is up in the air, with the Spanish international refusing to sign a new contract with Bilbao, saying he wanted a new challenge having spent his entire career so far with the Spanish club.
While, unlike Walcott, there is no chance of the 27-year-old remaining with Bilbao past this season, the La Liga club ruled out a move when the window reopens in January. Llorente can leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, and will be free to talk to other clubs and come to a pre-contract agreement in January.
"This player makes our team more competitive and his future will be decided by the club," Bilbao president Josu Urrutia said.
"At the moment we need to maintain the quality level within our squad, not reduce it.
"Llorente will stay with us until the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Vermaelen wants Walcott to stay with the Gunners beyond this season. Walcott is yet to agree on a new deal, with his current one set to end in the summer.
While talks over a new contract continue, the situation has led to some of the major clubs in Europe, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Juventus to shown an interest in the 23-year-old.
Both Walcott and the club are understood to want agree on a contract, and Vermaelen hopes the matter will be sorted sooner rather than later.
"Of course we want him to stay, but that is something that is going on between the player and the club," the Arsenal skipper said. "I don't know what is going on behind the scenes -- we don't talk about it, because that is going on in football all the time.
"It happened last time with Robin in the summer. It's the job of the board and the club what they are going to do with it so we can't do anything about it."
Walcott impressed in Arsenal's 5-2 win over Reading, playing as a central striker, and Vermaelen believes the England international is invaluable to the team.
"Theo played as a striker and I think he did well," Vermaelen added. "We know his qualities -- he is quick and goes in behind defenders all the time and I think we could find him and score a few goals as well.
"He can stretch a team with his quality because he has a lot of pace. He can go in behind the strikers and that means he can stretch the opposition and that gives the midfielders a lot of room to play. With our midfielders, that is a big plus of course.
"Theo has been invaluable for us when he played this year. He is dangerous for us, can stretch a team with his pace and I hope he could stay this year."
