So it looks like Arsenal are finally going to pay the price for their lack of financial clout. For too many years the North London club have kept pace — and more — with the moneybags European powers but something has to give.
Dragged down by their antiquated ground — Highbury has a capacity of less than 40 000 while Manchester United pull in more than 60 000 a week — and lack of a Chelski-style Russian billionaire, last season’s unbeaten champions could be about to see the heart of their side ripped out by Real Madrid.
Patrick Vieira, the gangly king of the Premiership midfield, is being hunted by Florentino Perez, the man re-elected boss of the Bernebeu in a landslide presidential election last week.
Perez knows his club, which rose to prominence with the backing of Franco’s fascist regime after the civil war in the 1930s, remain the biggest buyers in Europe. And the fans expect another galactico after recent record-breaking swoops for Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Zinedane Zidane and a certain David Beckham.
Vieira, terrible in the tackle, precise on the pass, magnificent in the middle, fits the bill. It matters not that the Senegal-born French 28-year-old is under contract for another three years. When Madrid dangle £30-million in front of a club desperate to fund their 2005 move to a new 60 000 capacity ground a mile down the road at Ashburton Grove, there is little chance of much resistance.
Perez says: ‘There are no players who are not for sale. The only problem is the money. I must repeat my policy is to sign the best player in the world in every position and Patrick Vieira is, in my opinion, the best in the world.â€
Of course, Madrid have come calling for Vieira before. In 2001, when Arsenal finished 10 points behind United, Perez thought he’d got his man, only for Vieira to withdraw and sign a new contract at the last minute.
The suspicion is that Vieira remains true to this quote, from June 2001: ‘I need to leave because I want to win the Champions League and I just can’t see that happening at Arsenal.â€
And that, along with the smiles of his bank manager, may be what persuades Vieira, captain and undisputed leader of the Gunners, to make a Real break.
Sadly that irritation could become a real malady. Arsenal without Vieira won’t get near Chelsea and Manchester United next season. Mark my words.