NICKLAS Bendtner is ready to commit himself to a new long-term contract at Arsenal, though there was renewed conjecture in Italy today regarding Emmanuel Adebayor.

NICKLAS Bendtner is ready to commit himself to a new long-term contract at Arsenal, though there was renewed conjecture in Italy today regarding Emmanuel Adebayor. (Daily Telegraph)

Arsene Wenger has already said that persuading both Bendtner and Robin van Persie to sign new contracts will be a priority this summer and it appears that progress has been made with the Danish 21-year-old forward.

“It is of course a priority of mine to prolong my contract, and I have never said anything else,” said Bendtner. “For me it is of course sweet to receive the backing from the manager, and I hope to stay at the club for a long time.”

Bendtner joined the Arsenal youth team as a 16-year-old in 2004 and has scored 24 goals in 90 first-team appearances. Van Persie has two more years on his contract, but negotiations over an extension remain ongoing and have yet to reach a conclusion.

Adebayor's agent Stephane Courbis has contributed to the uncertainty over the Togo striker's future and, according to sources in Italy, he remains a target of AC Milan even following Leonardo's appointment as manager last night following Carlo Ancelotti's departure.

However, Ancelotti was also keen to bring him to the San Siro and, should Chelsea decide to sell Didier Drogba, Adebayor would be regarded as an ideal replacement.

Wenger has said that he expects Adebayor to remain at Arsenal next season, but he will be unlikely to tolerate another summer of uncertainty and mixed messages regarding the 25-year-old's future. Reports in Italy have also linked Milan with an attempt to buy Michael Essien.