Spanish media claim Vieira could sign Thursday

Reports in Spain insist that Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira could be a Real Madrid player as soon as Thursday.

The club, also linked with Liverpool forward Michael Owen, are remaining tight-lipped but the media are convinced the Senegal-born French international is on the way to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Diario AS believe the deal to confirm Vieira as a new Real Madrid player will be concluded almost as soon as the Spanish club return from their Champions League qualifier with Wisla Krakow in Poland.

The paper reported: “If everything goes as planned, Vieira will be presented on Thursday as a new Real Madrid player for the next five years and he will immediately join their training sessions.”

However, the paper admits there are still some small details to be thrashed out between Arsenal and Madrid before the move can finally be confirmed.

“(Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez travelled from Palma in Mallorca to Madrid to personally carry out the negotiations.

“What is obvious is that Madrid will not pay more than €30m (£20m) – at most they will go two or three million over that – although Arsenal are still determined to ask for more money.

“Arsenal want to be paid in two instalments while Madrid aim to pay in four years. What is certain is that Arsenal want the subject closed by Saturday.”

That deadline was imposed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following the Community Shield.

Meanwhile, Madrid striker Ronaldo, who lived through a similar situation when he left Inter Milan for Madrid two years ago, was already looking forward to Vieira’s arrival.

“The most important thing in cases like this is to know what the player wants,” said Ronaldo, who himself forced his exit from Italy following contact from Madrid – a move that infuriated Inter, who had stood by the player through almost two years of injury.

“I don’t know what Vieira wants to do, but it all depends on that and if he wants to leave that is what he will certainly do. A club never wants a player who is unhappy,” he said.

The Brazilian added: “He is a great player and it would be very interesting to have him with us.”