Ajax's Tunisian right back has reportedly failed to report for training in an effort to force the Amsterdam club, with whom he has had a long-running contract dispute, to sell him.

Coach Ronald Koeman has been quoted as saying, "He will train at Ajax reserves when he returns, he's had more than enough time to find another club. "I have no idea how things stand, we've had no contact whatsoever with him."

Meanwhile the Mirror quotes Wenger as saying, "We will make a maximum of one signing before the deadline and it could be on the defensive side. We have only Lauren who has experience [he means on the right hand side, one has to presumes] and it is still possible to resurrect the deal for Trabelsi." Juventus are also said to be keen on Trabelsi. If one believed all that Dein and Wenger said about honouring contracts, one might suspect that this kind of blackmail behaviour from a player against his ckub would not enamour him to them. But if he's the right man, one also suspects that they would find a way to see his side of things. Wenger is also quoted, by Sky Sports as saying, "He has been linked with us, yes. We had some disagreement over some aspects of the contract and didn't finalise it. The deal is not completely dead but I cannot say, as well, we are on the verge of signing him." I can't help feeling that the Trabelsi talk could be a smokescreen. Wenger also made it clear that although he likes Wayne Rooney, Arsenal will not be competing for his signature. "At that level, we cannot be involved in it and, when you see Everton reject a bid of £20 million, I say: 'Okay, we are not in there'."