19 March 2006

PAUL Le Guen is in talks with Robert Pires, the Arsenal and France midfielder, with a view to the player joining Rangers at the end of this season. Pires would be a Bosman signing and would be the first tangible evidence that hiring a coach of Le Guen's stature will attract big-name players to Ibrox.

Pires, whose contract with Arsenal runs out this summer, has just turned 33 and has been frustrated by his inability to hold down a first team place at Highbury this season. He has already rejected the London club's offer of a 12-month extension to his contract and now seems certain to leave the club he joined from Marseille in 2000 for £6m.

Le Guen met Pires by chance at a Paris soiree hosted by Puma last week, when the two men were introduced by mutual friends Jean-Alain Boumsong and Didier Deschamps. However, it is understood that negotiations started soon after the two swapped contact details, with Pires stressing his desire to play Champions League football next season and his disappointment at the terms offered by Arsenal. A two-year deal at Ibrox is now understood to be on the table for the experienced midfielder, who has won 73 caps for France. Source - Scotsman

20 March 2006

Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has not held talks with Scottish champions Rangers, according to his agent.

Newspaper reports claimed the 32-year-old, who has only been offered a one-year deal by Arsenal, had agreed a summer Bosman move to Rangers.

But Stephane Courbis told BBC Sport: "It's not true. We are only talking with Arsenal for the moment.

"Robert has a proposition from Arsenal in his hands and he is thinking about it. For the moment he does not know."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he wants Pires to stay at the club - but says the Frenchman will only be offered a 12-month contract extension.

The player's deal ends in the summer but he has delayed signing a one-year extension in the hope of securing a longer deal. Source - BBC Sport

6 April 2006

Robert Pires has denied agreeing to join Villarreal when his Arsenal contract expires in the summer.

The experienced Frenchman is on the wanted list of several clubs, including The Gunners' UEFA Champions League semi-final opponents, as negotiations stall over fresh terms in North London.

Despite reports claiming the former Marseille man was incensed at being left out of the starting line-up for the draw against Juventus that sealed Arsenal's place in the last four in Europe, the player has still to decide on his future.

"The Italian press say I am going to Roma or to Fiorentina," he told L'Equipe.

"The Scottish press say I'm going to Glasgow Rangers. I am supposed to be going everywhere, but the truth is I have still not taken a decision.

"It makes me laugh. I will make the decision but it is also nice to be watched by other clubs."

Pires came on as a substitute in Turin and is likely to continue focusing on this season's endeavours before making a firm decision on his future.

The 32-year-old explained that talks are on hold with his present employers, who are offering a one-year extension to his contract.

"There are no negotiations," he stated.

"Things are always on 'stand-by'.

"They have offered me something so we'll have to see what my choice will be."

Source - Sky Sports