Arsenal rubbish Vieira quit report

Arsenal denied on Friday that France midfielder Patrick Vieira is set to quit Highbury. "The story is untrue," said Gunners vice-chairman David Dein. "Patrick is not leaving Arsenal for any price. He still has three years to go on his contract."

The Sun has claimed that Vieira has shocked the north London club by demanding a transfer because he craves new challenges.

"I have left," the player is reported to have told a friend while on holiday in Miami. "I am not going to start the next season with Arsenal. That's it and they know it. I will not move to Italy or to another London club."

Manchester United, or Spanish giants Barcelona or Real Madrid, are the teams thought to be leading the hunt to land one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has already spent £18.5million on players since the season ended – with the arrivals of striker Francis Jeffers from Everton, midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Rangers, plus a pending deal for Ipswich keeper Richard Wright. But those signings would be overshadowed by Vieira's departure.

The midfielder, though, refuses to accept that his departure would cause major problems at Highbury. "Arsenal have had great players before me and great players after me," he commented. "It is not the end of the world."

Earlier this month, Vieira supposedly ended speculation about his future and inisisted that he will stay at Arsenal. "There's no reason for me to leave. It's irrelevant to talk about leaving - I feel great here," he said.

"We don't reach every goal but the motivation and spirit is there. We all want to give our best. It's good news for the future."

"Arsene Wenger plays a key part in that and we must all be very grateful to him. I have become a different player because of him."

"I may still be hindered by my 'bad boy' reputation but it doesn't worry me. Other people can think what they want. If I had to leave it would be because I would like to win other trophies - but that is irrelevant.

"I have played here for five years. Part of my job is to welcome new players here and I am happy at Arsenal," he told the News of the World.