Gunners eye shock swoop Sun, Jan 01 2006 13:28
Arsene Wenger is preparing an audacious bid to bring Gunners legend Patrick Vieira back to Highbury from Italian giants Juventus.
The midfield talisman joined the Italian champions in a £13million deal last summer and the Gunners have struggled in the absence of his combative approach.
They have fallen 22 points behind Premiership leaders Chelsea and, according to The Sunday People, Wenger is now prepared to admit that he made a mistake in allowing Vieira move on.
The 29-year-old has made an impressive start to his Juventus career by helping them establish an eight-point lead at the head of Serie A, but is believed to be finding it difficult to adapt to life in Turin.
With both Wenger and Vieira seemingly open to the idea of a reunion, ex-Gunners midfielder Gilles Grimandi is acting as a go-between in order to smooth the path towards a shock deal.
Should Vieira be persuaded to return to London it is likely to prove a powerful bargaining tool for Arsenal when they open contract talks with his France international team-mate Thierry Henry.
The prolific striker, who succeeded Vieira as captain at Highbury, is believed to be unhappy with the lack of big-name signings at Arsenal in recent years and prepared to consider approaches from Barcelona and Real Madrid.
eatsleepsoccer.com
Yeah right