Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira could be set for a stunning, if not highly controversial, move to Tottenham with reports emerging that that French midfielder is considering a move to White Hart Lane.

According to The Daily Mail, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has offered the Inter Milan midfielder a one-year, pay-as-you-play deal with the North London outfit and is said to be 'hopeful' that a free transfer move for the 33-year-old can be completed over the next few days.

Sources in Italy have indicated that Vieira is so excited at the prospect of working with Redknapp that he is willing to accept wages of around £35,000-a-week, a massive reduction on his deal with the Nerazzurri where he is among their highest paid players.

"This is not about money, this is about a chance to play," said a friend of Vieira's last night.

"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."

If a deal is completed, then it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer given Vieira's past history with Spurs fiercest rivals.

Vieira spent nine glorious years with the Gunners during which time he helped the club to three Premier League titles and four FA Cup victories, while he was recently voted the as the Gunners' 5th greatest ever player in a poll on the club's official website.