Arsenal ready as Real Madrid prepare 'Operation Henry'

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has settled on Arsenal striker Thierry Henry as the galactico he wants next season.

AS says 'Operation Henry' will begin in the front office at Real from March and run along similar lines to how David Beckham was prised away from Manchester United last season.

Real officials have already been told by intermediaries that Henry would love to play at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has also told friends that he does not want to retire without having played alongside Zinedine Zidane at Real.

Arsenal's financial problems are well known to Perez and his management team. The new stadium and costs to improve the contracts of players like Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira are weighing down the Gunners.

Henry could have been a Real player seven years ago, when he agreed to join under former president Lorenzo Sanz. However, the contract was never accepted as being legal and he eventually stayed with AS Monaco.