Now Arsenal aim for Carrick

Arsenal are likely to be in the market for a midfielder to replace 28-year-old Patrick Vieira, whose protracted £23m move to Real Madrid is still in the balance.

Vieira has not agreed personal terms with the Spanish club and, in an encouraging sign for manager Arsene Wenger, was present for today's annual pre-season photo shoot at Highbury.

Wenger said today: "Patrick is still here despite all the talk.

"It's my personal opinion that he will also be here next week, the week after that and the week after that. I have a good relationship with him and I feel he will stay. I feel Patrick can win as much here as he can with Real Madrid."

Despite the bullish talk, Wenger is still making plans for life without his captain and met yesterday with Highbury vice-chairman David Dein to discuss potential replacements for Vieira.

Wenger has been tracking Nuno Maniche of Porto since the summer and is a long-time admirer of Carrick.

In April 2002, when there was uncertainty over Vieira's future, Wenger said: "We rate Michael Carrick highly."

Carrick has been a target this summer for Crystal Palace, Everton and Blackburn and Hammers manager Alan Pardew said: "There are lots of clubs involved and rightly so as he's a top-class player.

"Michael leaving was something we knew would happen as s oon as we lost the play-off final to Palace last season. We need the money."

Vieira is ruled out of Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester United with a thigh injury. Centrehalf Sol Campbell will also miss the match at the Millennium Stadium with an Achilles problem.

Meanwhile, United manager Alex Ferguson said today it was "a blow and a shock" to learn Ruud van Nistelrooy will be out for a month with a hernia problem which requires surgery.

He said: "We have seven players out for the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday, which is a blow, so hopefully we will get through Sunday's game without any more hiccups."

Arsenal today clinched a £6m club record sponsorship deal with mobile phone giants O2. The club have signed a two-year extension to their deal, which is believed to be worth around £5m.