Spanish sports daily Sport reckons that Arsene Wenger has been foiled in his attempts to lure Spanish international Ivan Helguera to Highbury - so says Sky Sports.

Arsenal reportedly contacted Real Madrid through a third party, to propose a £19m move - and the Bernabeu board room seemed keen to take him up on his offer, as debts mount at the club. But director of football Jorge Valdano stepped in to nip it all in the bud.

We could have sworn Arsene said all transfer activity was on hold until the EU sorts out its opinion on the transfer system, so it's pinches of salt all round. But he'd be a Hel of a good signing. (Best get the awful puns out of the way early...)