Zenit St Petersburg chief executive Maxim Mitrofanov has revealed that the Russian club are interested in keeping Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin on a permanent basis.
The 31-year-old made the switch to Zenit in February following a difficult term in his Gunners career but was expected to return to the Emirates this summer.
"Everything depends on Arshavin," the London Evening Standard quotes Mitrofanov as saying. "If Andrey is ready to stay in the team and go on the field as a player, we are ready to discuss it.
"Arshavin is part of our club but, with all due respect to him, he will only stay in the event that he proves himself useful as an active player. Not as a man making up the numbers."
Arshavin, who has netted three goals in nine starting appearances for Zenit, is expected to discuss his future with the Arsenal hierarchy in the next few weeks.
