Patrick Vieira's nine years at Arsenal will officially come to an end today when he completes a £13.75 million transfer to Juventus. The Arsenal captain is in Turin to finalise his personal terms and undergo a medical, which is expected to be a formality. Then the 29-year-old France midfielder, who joined Arsenal from AC Milan for £3.5 million in 1996, becoming Arsene Wenger’s first signing for the North London club, will put his name to a five-year contract and return to Serie A. "It was a very difficult decision, but I am happy with it," said Vieira. The two clubs confirmed on Thursday that they had agreed a fee of 20 million euros (£13.75 million) for Vieira, who nearly joined Real Madrid for £23 million last summer, but had a change of heart at the last minute and stayed at Highbury, leading the Gunners to more FA Cup glory when he scored the decisive penalty in the final shoot-out against Manchester United. Reports in Italy indicate that Juventus will pay Arsenal an initial instalment of £6.88 million, with payments of £3.44 million to follow in July 2006 and July 2007. The transfer means Vieira is returning to Italy, where he first moved as a 19-year-old from French club Cannes. The man who signed him for AC Milan then - Fabio Capello - is the same coach who has now brought him to Juve. Now Arsenal fans are waiting to see who Wenger buys to replace the captain. Reports have suggested that Arsenal opted to sell Vieira in order to finance their summer spending plans. Reports in some of today’s newspapers speculate that Newcastle’s Jermaine Jenas is a Wenger target - possibly as part of a sensational deal involving the transfer of Sol Campbell to St James’ Park. England midfielder Jenas, who joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in 2002 for £5 million, is apparently seen as an ideal replacement for Vieira, and is only 22. Campbell, who will be 31 in September, lost his place in Arsenal’s defence last season following the emergence while he was injured of Swiss starlet Philippe Senderos. Wenger preferred the partnership of Kolo Toure and Senderos in the FA Cup final.



Wade Redden was born on June 12, 1977 and grew up on a farm just outside of Lloydminster, Sask. He has an older sister Niki and an older brother Bart. Wade also has a dog named Bif. He was first introduced to hockey at age 2 when his father, a former minor-leaguer with the Red Wings chain, built him a rink in the backyard. By the time he was five, he was playing in a league and has played ever since. "I knew then it was what I wanted to do," he says. "Play hockey when I got older." Wade and his older brother Bart played on the same teams until they reached the junior level. Wade's father, Gord Redden, was a hockey coach so they were able to spend time together at the rink. Hockey, therefore, became a family sport. Bart Redden currently attends Lake Superior State University and plays hockey for their team, The Lakers. He wears number 16 and is a forward. Wade's play can be best compared to that of his father. He says his father, whom Redden describes as a tough player, was big about playing honest and clean. "He told me to play the game hard," says Redden. "And he always reminded me that I would never get away with cheap shots." He tries to apply those principals to his own game. However, he has alot more than his clean play to be proud of. For example, there was his preformance during his three years in the WHL.



WADE REDDEN 6 Defenseman Height 6' 2" Weight 208 Shoots Left Born Jun 12, 1977 LLOYDMINSTER, SK, CAN The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Redden is rapidly emerging as one of the top all-around efensemen in the NHL. Posted career highs in goals, assists and points in 1999-2000, while playing a solid defensive game. Redden was the second selection of the 1995 Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. was swapped to the Senators on Jan. 1, 1996 with goalie Damian Rhodes for goalie Don Beaupre, forward Martin Straka and defenseman Bryan Berard. In 1998-99, Redden played in his 200th NHL game on Han. 11, 1999 against New Jersey. Led Ottawa in plus/minus stats in 1997-98, going plus-17. Scored his first NHL goal, on his first NHL shot, against Montreal. Two-time gold medal winner for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. Redden was named to both the 1996 Central First All-Star and the Memorial Cup All-Star Teams. He won gold medals at both the 1995 and 1996 World Junior Hockey Championships. He played 51 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1995-96 and scored nine goals and assisted on 45 goals. He was also named runner up for the leagues top Defenceman Award in 1994-95. However, I am sure his best years are about to come. On July 8, 1995 Wade Redden was drafted into the NHL at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. Redden, who was second pick overall, was snatched up by the New York Islanders. But, by January 23, 1996, Redden, weighing 193lbs and 6'1'', was part of a three way trade that sent him to the Senators, along with goaltender Damian Rhodes from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bryan Berard, the first pick of the draft went to the Islanders.



Babe of the week - RACHEL MCADAMS







Song for the day - "Roll The Bones" - RUSH