SOCCER FA Premiership: Real Madrid have agreed a fee with Arsenal for the signature of Patrick Vieira, according to a radio report in Spain.
Cadena SER radio station reported yesterday that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Arsenal vice-president David Dein have agreed a €35-million fee for the French international midfielder, who is expected to sign a four- or five-year deal if the transfer is finalised.
The report, however, also claimed Arsenal had asked for a few days to line up a replacement for their captain - thought to be Porto midfielder Maniche.
Prisa, the media group that owns Diario AS and Cadena SER, has an investment in Real Madrid TV and is thought to be close to the Bernabeu outfit.
Even if those reports are found to be untrue and Vieira's move falls through, Arsenal are labouring under pressure on another of their star players.
According to reports from Italy, Juventus have not given up hopes of signing Sol Campbell despite the achilles tendon injury that will keep the England defender out of action for about six weeks.
The Italian club hope Arsenal will reduce the price tag, for a player who could leave on a free transfer next summer, to £7 million.
Juventus conceded 43 goals in Serie A last season and have proved during their pre-season friendlies that problems in defence have not been solved.
With players such as Ciro Ferrara (37), Paolo Montero (32), Mark Iuliano (31) moving beyond their best days, Juventus require a world-class defender if they are to compete in the Champions League.
The two players at the top of Fabio Capello's list are Campbell and Fabio Cannavaro. The Italy international is rated £4 million by Internazionale but Juventus will chase Campbell before turning their attention to Cannavaro.
Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie was attacked by two men while driving with his wife in Amsterdam on Friday night. They were left shaken but unhurt by the incident, which took place after the goalless draw against River Plate at the Amsterdam Arena.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho's well-laid plans for the Premiership season could be hampered after Adrian Mutu requested talks this week over his future at Stamford Bridge.
Those talks could be a prelude to Juventus stepping up their interest in the striker as they search for a replacement for Marco Di Vaio, who has moved to Valencia.
Mutu, who failed to live up to his £15.8-million fee in his first season with Chelsea, is upset after being left out of the friendly games in the United States against Roma and Milan - Chelsea lost the latter game 3-2 in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Despite Mourinho having praised Mutu's attitude since he took charge, the Portuguese coach seems to prefer Didier Drogba, Mateja Kezman and Eidur Gudjohnsen ahead of the Romanian international.
According to the player's agent, Andrea Pretti, Mutu is unwilling to start the season as fourth option in attack and wants the same opportunity as Chelsea's other three attackers.
If guarantees are not forthcoming, Juventus or Fiorentina could move in and take the player on loan for one season, like Inter and AC Milan did with Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo earlier this summer.
"Obviously he wants the same chances of playing as the other attackers in the team, that's why we will ask to meet the manager as soon as possible to know which are his plans for him," said his agent. "I believe Mourinho considers the four attackers at the same level. If this is not the case, however, things will change."
Chelsea's £8-million midfielder Tiago Mendes has been left out of Portugal's Olympic squad for Athens this month. Tiago, signed from Benfica, is suffering from a hernia.
Nottingham Forest and Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid has requested a transfer from the club.
The 22-year-old cites growing frustration after the club's decision to turn down a £5-million bid for him from Tottenham in January and a second offer of £3 million last month.
Reid stated yesterday he does not believe the club can win promotion to the Premiership in the coming season and fears he is being priced out of a transfer to a top-flight club.
Dublin-born Reid said: "After a sequence of disappointing events during the last six months I have today reluctantly submitted a transfer request.
"Like any First Division (Championship) player it's my ambition to play in the Premiership and despite several assurances the club would not stand in my way if an opportunity came along I have been denied this chance on a number of occasions and I feel I have no other choice than to formally state my desire to leave the club.
"You only have to look at the fees other clubs have paid this summer for experienced internationals who have only ever played in the Premier League to realise that I have been vastly priced out of a move."
Forest confirmed they had received the player's request but would not comment further.
Guardian Service
