Like a kid in the candy store, suddenly overwhelmed by a personal best in pocket money, Chelsea are virtually hovering over Highbury this summer. After rumoured bids for Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, the rubel revolution is now trying to tempt Robert Pires away from Arsenal.

If the 29-year-old fails to agree a new contract, Chelsea will step in and 'offer an escape route', as the Evening Standard puts it. At the same time, Juventus are reported to have £4m to £5m ready for a bid if the negotiations fall through.

The former Footballer of the Year hasn't travelled to Austria with the first team squad, as he's still resting after playing the Confederation Cup with France. Fellow internationals Vieira, Henry and Sylvain Wiltord are also still on holiday.