Wenger: 'I would turn down £50m for Vieira'

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said he would turn down a world record fee of £50m for Patrick Vieira.

Real Madrid have been linked with the French international midfielder, but Wenger said: "If we were offered £50m for Patrick we would not take the money. That would be a massive amount, but we do not want to sell. What is a bank full of money when you have no team?"

Vieira visited Spain last week, sparking rumours he was setting up a move to Real Madrid, although both club and player have denied the suggestions.

The Leicester City midfielder Dennis Wise is to fly to Italy today to see a specialist about his thigh problem. The Foxes manager, Dave Bassett, is hoping the former Chelsea captain will not require surgery. Whatever the verdict, Wise will definitely miss Leicester's home Premiership match with Arsenal on Wednesday and next Saturday's FA Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Wise's injury is the latest blow for Bassett, who will be without the striker Brian Deane for a month after he tore a calf muscle in training on Friday. Then his goalkeeper, Ian Walker, sustained a back injury during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle, and was substituted.

Bassett admits his squad are now down to the bare bones, so he is recalling the striker Trevor Benjamin from a loan spell with Crystal Palace.

Manchester United fans have taken legal advice over what they claim is an unfair reduction in the ticket allocation for the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough on 26 January. The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association could take court action to seek a judicial review of the decision by Middlesbrough's local authority not to offer the full 15 per cent allocation determined under the rules of the competition.

United received a reduced allocation of around 1,000 tickets for the Premiership game at the Riverside in December because of problems over supporters standing up during previous games on Teesside.

IMUSA claim the fans were praised for their behaviour during the 1-0 win and were subsequently told the allocation for the FA Cup fourth-round game would be increased. But United have been given only 2,400 – some 3,000 short of what they are entitled to under Football Association rules.