Silvestre to jump ship at City and join Wenger's Gunners?

Arsenal are reported to be on the verge of signing Manchester United s unwanted defender, Mikael Silvestre. In a surprise move, Arsene Wenger has offered the French internationall the chance to come to the Emirates and partner countryman William Gallas at

Arsenal are reported to be on the verge of signing Manchester United's unwanted defender, Mikael Silvestre.

In a surprise move, Arsene Wenger has offered the French internationall the chance to come to the Emirates and partner countryman William Gallas at the heart of the Arsenal defence.

Silvestre, no longer wanted by Alex Ferguson, was set to move across Manchester and join City but it believed to prefer the chance of a move to Arsenal and another season of Champions League football.

If Silvestre comes to the Emirates, he may prove to be the bargain buy of the season with a transfer fee of less than £1 million - a real snip for the cash-conscious Wenger considering Silvestre's wide international and Champions League experience.

He joined United in 1999 and was just one game short of making 250 first team appearances to add to the 40 international caps he won with France.

Wenger's late bid is sure to anger City, as Silvestre is reported to have had a medical there and agreed terms before the Arsenal boss stepped in with his 11th-hour approach.