Redknapp ready to offer deal to Vieira?

Tottenham are reportedly in talks to sign Patrick Vieira from Inter Milan on a free transfer.

Harry Redknapp is believed to be ready to offer the former Arsenal captain a one-year pay-as-you-play deal worth around £35,000-a-week. If the transfer goes through it would stun fans at the Emirates.

The 33-year-old has been told he is surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho in Italy and the midfielder has already turned down the chance to talk to Paris Saint-Germain and Birmingham City, favouring a move back to London.

Vieira played 407 matches for Arsenal and scored 34 goals. Moving to White Hart Lane would be a move just as unthinkable as Sol Campbell's decision to make the switch directly between Spurs and Arsenal.

The Daily Mail quotes a source close to Vieira as saying: "This is not about money, this is about a chance to play.

"He has great memories of his time in London at Arsenal but that is in the past. The deal is not completed but he has an open mind. He is not afraid of the challenge from Spurs.''