Julio Arca last night confessed he is desperate to stay at Sunderland, snubbing the big-name clubs who are trying to unsettle him.
The Argentinian has been the subject of much speculation during the January transfer window after forging a reputation as one of the best left-sided players currently performing in English football.
Celtic were just one of the clubs linked with a New Year transfer swoop, only to be warned off by manager Mick McCarthy and chairman Bob Murray, who are both adamant he is not for sale.
And the 23-year-old handed both an invigorating winter pick-me-up yesterday by declaring he has no intention of leaving the Black Cats and insisted he is keen to sign a new contract at the Stadium of Light.
Arca currently has 18 months on his existing deal, but took the opportunity to publicly pledge his allegiance to the Wearsiders as he prepares to return to the starting line-up against Ipswich at the weekend.
"The chairman has said he doesn't want to sell me and so has the manager. It is very nice, very pleasing for me," explained Arca, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Millwall at the weekend through suspension.
"I would like to stay playing for Sunderland for as long as possible because it is a good club. It is a Premiership club and if I get the chance to sign another contract, I would like to stay here. It makes me proud when I hear about what people are saying about my performances, especially the manager.
"I feel very happy, but I will always try and play better. I don't like to think too much about the praise because it might break my concentration in games. It is what happens in the future that is important."
Arca is undoubtedly a player of Premiership class, but it is clear the former Argentinos Juniors star would prefer to return to his rightful stage with Sunderland.
Nevertheless, should McCarthy fail to guide them back into the top-flight at the first attempt there will undoubtedly be even more interest from clubs keen to lure him away from the North-East.
Arca, though, refuses to contemplate such an event, even denying that playing for a relatively unfashionable club like Sunderland will damage his international prospects.
He said: "I would have liked to have played in the Olympic Qualifiers with Argentina. It is a little disappointing to miss out on the chance of playing for my national team.
"The manager understood all that, but he wanted me to stay here and help Sunderland get back into the Premiership.
"I accepted that decision, but I have not given up hope of playing for my country in the future, that will always be my ambition.
"I'm aiming to get into the senior side. I can only do that by playing well for my team and my team is Sunderland. If I do well here then scouts from the national team will come to watch me play."
The one blot on Arca's season so far has been his poor disciplinary record, having already picked up seven yellow cards and two sendings off.
But the £3.5m signing feels he has been unfairly treated by the authorities. He said: "I don't feel as though I've deserved as many bookings as I have received this season and the two sendings off were wrong. It is difficult to find a reason for why I get booked so much. I'm not a dirty player and I'm not a cheat, but I keep getting booked.
"Sometimes I get them for a mistimed challenge, but other times they are wrong. Sometimes referees do not make the best decisions and that has cost me. I won't let it change the way I play. I play my football the way I always have done."
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