Patrick Vieira has given Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger a huge boost by declaring that he wants to stay at Highbury.
The French international has been the subject of speculation linking him with a host of top European clubs - including Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona - but has now pledged his future to the Gunners.
"There's no reason for me to leave," Vieira was quoted as saying yesterday. "It's irrelevant to talk about leaving - I feel great here. We don't reach every goal but the motivation and spirit are there."
The midfielder added: "We all want to give our best. We should all be grateful to Arsene Wenger - he has certainly done a lot for my game."
Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson has revealed the club are in talks with Barcelona about bringing Vieira's former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Petit back to London.
But the £7 million deal for the former Arsenal midfielder is unlikely to go ahead until the Catalan giants have finished their season.
Although their league season ended last night, Barcelona have reached the semifinal stages of the Spanish Cup. Even so, Chelsea are hoping to tie up the deal as soon as possible, despite the reported interest of Tottenham in the 30-year-old French World Cup winner.
Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer believes Manchester United should forget about luring the European champions' manager Ottmar Hitzfeld to Old Trafford.
The German former World Cup-winning coach and captain has told the club to focus their attention on keeping current manager Alex Ferguson when his contract expires at the end of next season.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live yesterday, Beckenbauer claimed it would be wrong if Ferguson was allowed to sever all ties with United after 15 years in charge.
He said: "Maybe the best way for Manchester United will be to convince him to sign another 10-year contract. Or maybe he could take another position, where he is not so deeply involved."
Hitzfeld, who led his team to Champions League glory this year, has regularly been tipped as a suitable replacement for Ferguson. Beckenbauer said: "I think Ottmar feels so comfortable in Munich and he has a contract until 2004. It is a great honour for him to be mentioned with Manchester United but I don't think it is in his mind to move away from Bayern."
Tottenham Hotspur striker Steffen Iversen may miss all next season after a series of concussions. According to press reports yesterday, 25-year-old Iversen, who had briefly returned to Norway, would not be allowed to train during the off-season.
