Ljungberg will stay ... even if Vieira departs for Real
Arsenal and Real looked to still be involved in a battle of wills as the Spanish club failed to sign the 28-year-old midfielder in time to register him for the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
Even after missing the 11am British time deadline, they still have until the close of the transfer window on August 31 to ensure that Vieira is available for the group stages.
Reports, nevertheless, indicate that, rather than bowing to Real's pressure and agreeing a deal of anything between £18 million and £23m, Arsenal were actually holding out for as close to £30m as possible.
Indeed, with Vieira apparently yet to agree personal terms after being offered less than the club's existing "galacticos," there is speculation Arsene Wenger would now look to capitalise on any delay to persuade his captain to stay.
Wenger was yesterday quoted in French newspaper L'Equipe as insisting: "I categorically deny that Arsenal have accepted any proposition from Real Madrid about Vieira. I won't say anything else."
That does not mean a move cannot be agreed, even though Vieira requires treatment on a persistent thigh strain that will rule him out of Sunday's Community Shield in any case.
While replacing Vieira would be hard enough, meanwhile, Wenger's other priority is to keep the rest of his title-winning squad together.
The Arsenal boss will therefore have been heartened to see Ljungberg dampen speculation that he was also looking for a fresh challenge away from Highbury.
The Sweden international, who had been linked with a potential move to Italy, told the club's official website www.arsenal.com: "I don't know where these stories about me leaving Arsenal have come from." Arsenal will naturally have been planning for the worst-case scenario of life without captain Vieira, with Porto's Maniche and Valencia's Ruben Baraja said to be two leading targets.
Another Valencia midfielder, David Albelda, could also be considered, along with England international Owen Hargreaves and Stephen Appiah, who has been on loan at Juventus from Brescia.
Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is set to join Juventus on a year-long loan, according to his agent.
The Italian club have been pursuing the Romanian international for several weeks and could complete the transfer imminently.
Mutu is to fly to Turin for a medical, and it is expected that he will sign a 12-month contract.
His departure from Stamford Bridge, albeit on a temporary basis, comes just a year after he signed from Parma.
The 25-year-old cost Chelsea £15.8m, but after a bright start to his career in the Premiership there came a lull in his performances and he finished last season with just six league goals.
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