Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has ruled out selling French international midfielder Patrick Vieira to the likes ofManchester United, British media reported today.
Vieira has been the focus of transfer speculation over the past week, after reportedly saying he wanted to leave Highbury for a clubwhere he could win more trophies.
"It will be a very difficult fight to keep Patrick and no one should be under any illusion we will do everything we can to keep him," Hill-Wood wasquoted as saying in the Sunnewspaper.
"Sadly, from the comments coming from him and his agent, he seems determined to leave. But he will not dictate to us who we do business with.
"Selling one of our best players to our closest rivals would not make any sense. We have not agreed to sell him and, anyway, Manchester Unitedis out of the question."
Vieira is away on holiday in the United States and is expected to hold further talks with Arsenal on his return.
Manchester United, who have confined Arsenal to the runners-up position in the past three seasons, are still confident of making at least one morebig signing before the season gets under way.
