British taboid Sunday People claim that Arsenal have signed Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto from J-League club Gamba Osaka for GBP 4 million. The signing is to be announced next week, the story says.

Manager Arsène Wenger has watched the 21-year-old impress for Japan in the Confederation Cup. Inamoto is said to be a direct replacement for Patrick Vieira, who is surrounded by rumours of his imminent departure from Highbury.

Inamoto comes highly recommended from Ossie Ardiles, still coaching in Japan, and is also mentioned as an Arsenal target in the Sunday Times.