United plan Vieira swoop

MANCHESTER UNITED are planning an audacious bid for Arsenal's captain Patrick Vieira.

United have reportedly placed a secret bid of around 32 million for the services of the Gunners' captain, who has recently expressed his dissatisfaction with his own wage level and with the constraints imposed by Arsenal's plans to build a new ground.

It is being suggested that both Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive Peter Kenyon have confided to friends that United are planning "the kind of deal that will take everyone's breath away and catch everyone by surprise."