Emmanuel Adebayor's agent has challenged Arsenal to do whatever it takes to keep the striker after the club rejected a £24m bid from Barcelona.

Adebayor, 24, insists he wants to stay with the Gunners, but he is yet to sign the improved £45,000-a-week deal he has been offered since scoring 30 goals last season.

Stephane Courbis, his agent, said: "It is vital that Arsenal show their motivation to keep him.

"There has been a love story between Adebayor and Arsenal, and his relationship with [boss] Arsene Wenger is based on trust and respect.

"If this was a money problem, then he would have asked to leave. I know that Arsenal's political position is that they don't pay high salaries.

"Whatever they decide, the decision will be taken with respect."

Barcelona's bid is well below Arsenal's valuation of £35.6m - a price tag which has put off potential rivals for his signature, AC Milan.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "Bids of £35.6m are impossible for Italian clubs, which is why the top players don't come here anymore."