Patrick Vieira's French agent has suggested the Arsenal midfielder may want to see out his current contract at Highbury before moving on as a free agent. Vieira's existing deal runs until the summer of 2004, and agent Marc Roger has claimed: "What is wrong if Patrick decides to stay at Arsenal and honour his contract? Why should he not do that? Why can't he stay as long as his contract allows him to stay? I can see nothing wrong with that at all."
Manager Arsene Wenger will be anxious to avoid that possibility by tying the French international to a new deal, and so avoid the danger of losing one of his star players on a Bosman free. Vieira, 25, was a £3.5million buy from AC Milan in 1996 but has been linked with a host of leading European clubs this season, including Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Filed by Shane Murray
