Wenger loses out on Baptista in bid to fill Vieira void

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger must begin searching elsewhere for his first major signing of the summer as defeat looms large in the race to sign Sevilla’s Julio Baptista.

The Gunners appeared to have made a major breakthrough on Monday when Sevilla announced they were close to agreeing a fee for Baptista but on Tuesday Wenger declared his chances were only 50-50.

Baptista’s determination to secure an EU passport provided the main stumbling block, with the 23-year-old able to begin his application next month when he will have completed two years of residency in Spain.