Real move on Vieira

Real Madrid are set to test Arsenal's resolve with a multi-million bid for unsettled French midfielder Patrick Vieira.

Real president Florentino Perez has admitted he wants to partner Vieira with world record signing and compatriot Zinedine Zidane.

Perez said: "We have not talked to Vieira, nor Arsenal yet, but Vieira is indeed part of the list of players we are interested in."

Zidane, who joined the Spanish champions from Juventus in a £44million deal earlier this week, has told Real officials that he is desperate to play alongside his French international colleague at the Bernabeu.

Perez said: "In fact, Zidane talked about him. He told us he is a great player, what we already know."

The Real president has revealed he will contact Arsenal about Vieira when the Frenchman returns from holiday on Monday, but admitted he must sell before he can fund any potential deal for the 25-year-old.

"For the moment, we have to sell some players because we have a surplus of at least ten," he said.

"But we are still looking for one or two reinforcements. If it's possible, why not?"

His comments come just 24 hours after Real sports director Jorge Valdano denied the La Liga champions were interested in prising Vieira away from Highbury.

Vieira hit the headlines earlier this month when he was alleged to have said that Arsenal have no chance of breaking Manchester United's hegemonic hold over the Premiership and repeating their league and double success of 1998.

He was also alleged to have slammed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger for failing to attract any of the world's top players to Highbury.