Domino effect?

So, the transfer market is still remarkably slow. It seems that everyone's sitting around waiting for someone else to make the first move.

That could all change, though, if - as seems likely - Patrick Vieira swaps London for Turin and signs for Juventus. The move might well spark a flood of transfers, and we've got more reason to be concerned than most.

Armed with the money from the sale of Vieira, Wenger would no doubt soon be looking at JJ as a potential replacement, and, with both Stuart Taylor and Graham Stack leaving and only Jens Lehmann and the hapless Manuel Almunia remaining, he's still likely to be in the market for another 'keeper.

Souness has moved to quash any speculation about JJ, saying: "If we were to sell Jermaine, which is the last thing on my mind, it would have to be for a lot more money than Patrick Vieira is being sold for, if it is £12 million. He is 22 years old and has the potential to be one of the best midfield players in the world, he maybe doesn't have the aggression Patrick has, but he certainly has the athleticism and technically he is good - he is an outstanding player, but it would take a lot more than £12 million and I don't think anyone has that sort of money at the moment.".

Not a complete hands-off, then - more a "can we interest you, Jose?"

As an intriguing aside, Souness admitted an admiration for Sol Campbell. I can't see anything happening on that score, though - he might have been kept out of the Arsenal team by Kolo Toure and Phillipe Senderos towards the end of last season, but I doubt Wenger would let him go, and he'd also demand a large wage packet.