Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hopeful that Brazilian midfielder Edu will sign a new deal with the club. The 26-year-old's contract expires next summer and he has been linked with a move to Spanish trio Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.
But Wenger said: "I feel all the situations with the out-of-contract players will be sorted out in January.
"Around Christmas it is a little bit of a flat period contract-wise but it is a busy period on the pitch."
Edu will be able to begin negotiating over a new deal from 1 January 2005 because Fifa regulations allow players to start talks six months before their contracts expire.
He has admitted that the lure of Spain is an exciting one.
The Brazilian was quoted in the Spanish press as saying: "The three Spanish clubs are enormous. If I had to sign for one of the teams today I would not know what to do - they are all special."
But Wenger refuted suggestions that he would not be able to resist the draw of moving to the likes of Real Madrid.
He added: "I don't understand why players should be more interested by Real Madrid than by Arsenal personally.
"I'm convinced that the players who have been here have experienced something that makes it special and as long as they can do it they want to enjoy it."
Edu's brother and representative Amadeo Fensao previously said that Arsenal's current offer to the midfielder was well short of what he was seeking.
"Arsenal have made an offer but we want a lot more," he said.
"We are going to keep negotiating until 31 December but, if we don't come to terms by then, we will look at other options."
MMIX
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