Real pressure Arsenal for Vieira
Spanish newspaper Marca, who routinely act as the unofficial mouthpiece for Real, reported that the club had now ended the phoney war over Vieira by finally submitting an official faxed bid.
Neither club was willing to confirm this development and the reported £18m bid was well short of Arsenal’s valuation of their influential captain.
Indeed, with Arsene Wenger having insisted that Arsenal would resist any approaches from Real, the Gunners will attempt to stand firm even in the face of any increased bid of £20m.
The pressure nevertheless seems to be increasing on the North London club ahead of the new season, with Vieira’s future still hanging in the balance.
Camacho is determined to increase his team’s defensive resolve, either by recruiting a holding midfielder such as Vieira or a centre-back, having already lost out on Ricardo Carvalho, who has moved to Chelsea instead.
Real must register the 28-year-old Frenchman tomorrow for him to be available for their Champions League qualifier next week against either Wisla Krakow or WIT Georgia.
Camacho declared: “People said that Vieira and Ricardo Carvalho had already been signed but, at the moment, we haven’t signed anyone.
“It’s obvious that we don’t need to add anything to the attack. However, the defensive aspect, from midfield going back, is a different matter.
“The team needs another player and more balance there. We have to do things well. There is still a month to go before the season starts.”
Despite his apparent interest in Real, Vieira has not asked for a transfer from Highbury and his agent, Steve Kutner, was today making no comment on the reported bid from Spain.
Arsenal were similarly tight-lipped, while a Real spokesman said: “We have no information available concerning Patrick Vieira and Real Madrid. We cannot say if there has been a bid.”
If Camacho does not manage to strengthen his midfield - with Real Sociedad’s Xabi Alonso a potentially cheaper alternative - then David Beckham and Ivan Helguera could yet start the season in central roles.
“I don’t think that because Beckham and Helguera play in the middle, the team is going to lack ideas,” said Camacho. They have the quality to play the ball, but they give balance to the side.”
However, the transfer window does not close until the end of this month and Arsenal must hold out for another four weeks if they are to resist Real’s advances for a third consecutive summer.
Vieira, in any case, will not be fit for Arsenal’s Community Shield clash against Manchester United on Sunday due to a thigh strain.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
