Wenger in talks to keep Vieira at Highbury

ARSENE WENGER admits the speculation surrounding Patrick Vieira's future is overshadowing Arsenals' pre-season preparations, but will continue talks with the French midfielder in a bid to keep him at Highbury.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is a keen admirer of Vieira and seems prepared to bankroll a suggested £30 million swoop for the World Cup and European Championship winner, as new boss Jose Antonio Camacho looks to build a side for another assault on the Champions League.

Vieira is under contract with the Gunners until 2007, but is reported to be ready to quit Highbury, where he has nothing left to prove domestically having won both of England's major domestic honours.

Along with the other Euro 2004 players in the Arsenal squad, Vieira was flown out by private jet to Austria ahead of Saturday night's friendly with Grazer AK.

And the 28-year-old was clearly irritated when asked by a journalist from Spanish paper Marca in a hotel lobby if he would like a move to the Bernabeu.

"I am sorry," said Vieira. "I cannot speak. This is not the right moment. I cannot talk about Real Madrid. Leave me. Don't do this."

The paper insists Vieira has already indicated to Madrid that he would like to become the club's "magnificent seventh" Galactico, joining the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Raul and Roberto Carlos on the payroll. Wenger, meanwhile, is finding it difficult to focus on footballing matters rather than transfer rumours as he prepares for the kick-off to the new domestic season against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield on August 8.

"I'll talk to him tomorrow and the day after tomorrow," said Wenger on Saturday.

"But it is difficult to concentrate on the team. There are 20 other players in the squad who need the same attention."

Wenger denied he had received a bid for the player, saying: "I don't know who wants our players to go.

"But we always start the season with the same players - no team has been more stable than us in the last five years."

Ahead of their Cardiff date with United, the Gunners will meet Sturm Graz on Wednesday, before taking part in the Amsterdam Tournament with fixtures against Argentine champions River Plate and Ajax at the weekend.

An Arsenal XI will, meanwhile, play Borehamwood on August 3 and against Belgian side KSK Beveren the following day.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane believes Manchester United have got the right mix of old and young players. The Old Trafford captain is thrilled that seasoned campaigners Gary and Phil Neville have signed new five-year deals. The brothers linked up with the squad for the first time on Saturday and took part in a training session at Soldier Field.

Both players will probably feature in the game with Celtic on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Keane said: "It is important that they have signed the new contracts. Over the last few seasons we have brought in four or five young players.

"I think it is important to get the balance right and we have got a good balance in the club now. I have been here a few years and we also have Ryan (Giggs) Gary, Phil and Scholesy (Paul Scholes). Phil and Gary have been great servants and hopefully they will be around for a few more years."

The new deal means the Nevilles will likely see out their careers with United.

Manager Alex Ferguson said: "We are always pleased when members of the first team squad commit themselves to future contracts. It retains the consistency in the club.

"They have given us great years and they will give us more great years. Continuity is very important in a football club."

Gary joined as a trainee in 1991 and Phil followed him down that road two years later and the new contracts will take them into their 30s.

Ferguson added: "We feel they are good ages to do the deals. Gary is 29, Phil is 27 and this deal will take them through the best years of their life. It gives us back-up in terms of experienced players who know the club."