Vieira's end-of-season Real move

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira may be ready to leave Highbury for Real Madrid at the end of the season according to reports from Spain.

Vieira is top of Real's wanted list for the season 2002-3 having been recommended by French star Zinedine Zidane.

Real Madrid's Florentino Perez is determined to land Vieira next June after already having an offer for the player turned down by the English giants.

However, the situation may turn in Real's favour should Arsenal fail to pick up any silverware this season. Gunners chairman David Dein told Spanish paper Marca on Monday that for the time being Vieira will be staying in London.

He said: "I don't know what'll happen in the future but Vieira will be playing for Arsenal this season. We haven't heard anything from Real Madrid as of yet but there are a lot of rumours going around."

Vieira is valued at £30million but the price could drop to £20million at the end of the season.