Arsene Wenger is expected to reinforce his midfield by signing Saint Etienne's Blaise Matuidi for £7million rather than bring former captain Patrick Vieira back to Arsenal.
Vieira has been heavily linked with the Gunners as the 33-year-old searches for firstteam football ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.
While Wenger has not ruled out the possibility of the Inter Milan midfielder returning to the club, it is understood he would prefer a younger player whose best years are ahead of him.
The Arsenal manager claimed yesterday he is prepared to start the season without adding to his squad but it is thought he is likely to bring in at least one high-profile signing before the transfer window closes next month.
Both St Etienne sporting director Damien Comolli and Matuidi himself have admitted his time at the Ligue One club may be coming to an end but Wenger is unlikely to make a formal offer until after this weekend's Emirates Cup.
Matuidi is a midfielder in the Vieira mould, has a good footballing brain, and at just 22 years of age has time to reach his potential.
Although Vieira has enjoyed his best preseason for years, the Frenchman's fouryear spell in Italy has been plagued by injury.
He has frequently been seen at Emirates Stadium and holds a strong affinity with the club but it would require a significant leap of faith from Wenger to re-sign a player he thought no longer capable of coping with Premier League football in 2005.
