Wenger: Vieira staying at Arsenal
( 2001-06-14 16:53 ) (7 )

France midfielder Patrick Vieira will not be leaving Arsenal, according to the English premier league club's manager Arsene Wenger.

Vieira, valued at 25 million pounds (US$34.80 million), was rumoured to be unhappy at the London club's lack of silverware since they won the league and cup double in 1998 and the sale of key players Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars to Barcelona in the last close-season.

But Wenger, quoted in Britain's Daily Mirror on Thursday, denied Vieira was demanding showdown talks regarding his future. He said: "There is no meeting planned with him. As far as I am concerned he is happy at Arsenal and will be with us at the start of next season.

"There are so many rumours about Patrick's future but that is all they are. He is a fantastic player and a great asset to the team."

Wenger also confirmed he was keen to sign Tottenham Hotspur's out-of-contract defender Sol Campbell, although he denied the player was to undergo a medical at Highbury on Friday.

He said: "Of course we are still interested in Sol Campbell, but I don't think he has made his mind up about where he wants to go."