Juve 'Close' to Signing Paddy

Story from teamtalk.com...

Italian giants Juventus have confirmed they are close to signing Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira - but are "not interested" in Robert Pires.

Juve general director Luciano Moggi said: "We are on the verge of signing him, the deal should be completed this afternoon."

The Bianconeri have ruled out a move for Vieira's Gunners and France team-mate Pires, however.

Moggi added: "We are not interested in Pires."

Reports in the Italian press on Thursday morning suggested Vieira will sign a four-year contract after the clubs agreed a fee of 14million euros (£9.6m), although Moggi would not confirm the details. Apart from Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood admitting he had heard of the Juventus interest in Vieira and saying it was still his gut feeling that it would be turned down at a board meeting next week, there has been no response from the Gunners.

Vieira was on the brink of joining Real Madrid a year ago but the London club's commitment to keeping him despite a £25m-plus deal, was a big factor in him changing his mind at the last moment.

This time, neither vice-chairman David Dein, the real power behind the throne at Highbury, nor manager Arsene Wenger have yet come out and publicly stated their desire to retain Vieira, who still has two years to run on his contract which is now believed to make him the highest earner at Highbury.