Arsenal are yet to enter into negotiations with David Luiz over an extension to his contract, it has been claimed.
Luiz, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave on a free.
That was widely expected to be the most likely scenario for the veteran, who has been criticised for some poor performances this season.
However, it has recently emerged that he could be offered an extra 12 months on his deal, taking him through to the summer of 2022 - though Football London reports talks are yet to begin.
Considering his age, it has been suggested that he could sign a new contract to become a player/coach.
Speaking last month, Mikel Arteta heaped praise on the defender for his influence on the team's youngsters, hinting he could see him becoming a coach after his playing days are done.
Arsenal's centre-backs of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba - who could very well be the first-choice pairing next year - are just 23 and 19 respectively.
For that reason, Luiz could be kept around to be a mentor to the two and have his playing time significantly limited.
Arteta said of Luiz's influence: “He’s a great example for them (the youngsters).
"He’s got a good mixture with them between some banter and then some stick.
“They all listen to him because of who he is and what he’s done in the game.
"But also because how he behaves every day, how professional he is and how he goes about the job. He is one of the key role models that we have in our team.”
Arsenal are said to have a policy in place of only offering one-year deals to players over the age of 30, so Luiz's deal won't be long-term.
Instead, he could well sign until 2022 with a clause allowing him to take up a coaching role once he retires, similar to when Per Mertesacker signed a one-year deal before taking up the role of academy manager.
