Agent: 'No Athletic Bilbao contact for Mikel Arteta'

The agent of Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has claimed that talk of his client moving to Athletic Bilbao this summer is "false" speculation.

It had been suggested that the Spanish outfit were interested in signing the Spaniard as a replacement for Ander Herrera, who has joined Manchester United.

However, when approached by Mundo Deportivo, it is understood that Arteta's agent branded such talk as "false" and insisted that no contact has been made from the Basque outfit.

Arteta, who was born in San Sebastian, spent one season with Bilbao's close rivals Real Sociedad in 2004.