From the Guardian.
Patrick Vieira has intimated to Arsenal that he may walk out of Highbury for free if his contract talks are not settled in the next four weeks.
The Arsenal captain has 12 months to run on his current deal and will refuse to keep negotiating beyond the start of the season on August 14. If that deadline passes without a new contract being agreed he will be at liberty from next January to talk to Real Madrid, who head the list of potential suitors, to set up a free transfer for next summer.
Vieira declared himself "optimistic" about the continuing dialogue and said his desire was to remain at Arsenal - but he refused to rule out becoming a free agent next June.
"Discussions are on course and I am optimistic," he told the French sports newspaper L'Equipe. "I want to stay at Arsenal but everything must be sorted before the start of the Premiership season. Either I will extend my stay at Arsenal or I will see out my contract."
Arsenal refuse to take a public position over Vieira's comments but privately interpret the statement in a positive light. Their manager Arsène Wenger declared at the weekend that he was "confident [Vieira] will sign in the next three or four days".
Though the proposed new stadium at Ashburton Grove is stretching budgets to the limit, Vieira wants assurances that the club will not lose their star assets. Robert Pires has yet to commit to a contract extension and Sylvain Wiltord expects to hold talks to clarify his position on his return from holiday.