Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger will be offered three million pounds a year when he negotiates a new three-year contract. After making it clear that he won't leave Arsenal before his contract is up, the board is said to want to extend his stay by at least one year - to the summer of 2003, and hopefully a couple more years after that.

The offer will give Wenger a total salary of nine million pounds in total, plus up to one million in bonuses per season. The package would make him the highest paid manager in British football.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: "We have had very constructive talks and I'm confident that Arsene will stay."

Wenger himself has confirmed that he is considering the offer.