Dethrone La Liga champions have made Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger their prime target to takeover current gaffer Frank Rijkaard, who is expected to step down following the title loss to Real Madrid.

Reports from France suggest that Wenger met with Barca director Feran Soriano in Paris last week to discuss a possible transfer of captain Thierry Henry to Barca but senior sources at the Nou Camp suggest otherwise and are insisting Wenger’s own future was also a topic of discussion.

The loss of close ally David Dein has caused much disharmony at the Emirates with “The Professor” getting frustrated by the lack of transfer funds and with only a year remaining on his Gunners contract, Wenger might opt to seek new pastures.