Campbell wants to extend Arsenal stay

Veteran centre-half Sol Campbell is in no doubt he can compete at the highest level again next season - and has vowed to help bring the "glory" days back to Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he intends to sign a defender this summer, accepting his side's performances at the back this year have been "average" as they conceded 41 goals as they finished third in the Barclays Premier League.

Campbell, who will be 36 in September, returned to his old club during January on a short-term deal, and impressed after stepping in to bolster an injury-hit rearguard.

Wenger is keen to keep on the former England captain - who led Arsenal through their unbeaten campaign of 2003/2004 - to give some much-needed experience to the young squad, which has now not delivered a trophy in five years.

Campbell sees no reason why he should not be at Emirates Stadium again next season as negotiations over a new contact continue.

"I fancy staying, of course I do," Campbell told the club's official website, www.arsenal.com.

"I want to stay and I want to give it my all for at least another year. I could do two, but the manager never gives out two. We always want a little bit more.

"Give me one year and I will work every day and try to win a trophy and bring some kind of glory back to Arsenal."

Campbell continued: "Deep inside I feel I have got two real gritty years left in me, the years in which I can affect things.

"If I am in the team I can really make a difference. I know that.

"And after two years I will look at it again and we'll see.

"After that I might only be able to play games here and there, who knows, but I think I can be an influence and be positive and win games and be strong for two years."

Campbell is hopeful an agreement can be reached.

He said: "We will sit down, it has started and we will try to thrash something out.

"The negotiations are either going to be done in a week or two or it might take until July - you just don't know how things will pan out.

"We will have to see how Arsene sees me at the club."

Fulham's Brede Hangeland and Senegal defender Pape Diakhate are thought to be on Wenger's summer shopping list, with Campbell and fit-again Johan Djourou then also set to back up Thomas Vermaelen, who has been a revelation since his move from Ajax last year.

The future of Gallas, however, remains unclear.

The French defender, 33 in August, was conspicuous by his absence from the players' lap of appreciation after the Fulham game, and chairman Peter Hill-Wood has wage demands - reported to be £80,000-a-week - as "quite extravagant".

"We would very much like him to stay, but I think for one year, and not on the money he wants," Hill-Wood said in the Daily Star.

"He is a good player, but you have got to draw the line somewhere.

"If he can get the money somewhere else, good luck to him.

"We still hope he will sign, but if he doesn't, he doesn't."

Fellow veteran Mikael Silvestre is also out of contract in the summer and the former Manchester United man is a target for Blackburn.