Jun 23, 2007 - 4:15 AM
0 shoutsBy Jim van Wijk Special to PA SportsTicker
Arsenal look set to be facing up to life without Thierry Henry after Barcelona confirmed they are in talks with the World Cup winner.
Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano confirmed to Spanish sports newspaper Marca that talks with the French star over a reported $32 million deal were at an "advanced" stage.
However, Soriano did reveal that it was "the wish of all parties" for an agreement to be reached for the transfer of Henry, who could be presented as a Barca player on Monday if the move goes through this weekend.
The Barca vice-president also insisted they waited for the green light from Arsenal before making their move for the 29-year-old striker, who is the Gunners' all-time record goalscorer.
"We don't want to point a gun at anybody," Soriano said. "We have good relationships with the European clubs."
Henry, 29, is Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer, but admitted the shock exit of vice-chairman David Dein last season had been unsettling for everyone at the club.
Manager Arsene Wenger - whose own future remains uncertain - had hoped to convince his talisman to remain at the club, confident the squad could again compete for honors both at home and abroad.
It is just over 12 months ago that Henry agreed a lucrative new deal with Arsenal and declared his intention to see out his playing days at the Emirates Stadium following an emotional Champions League final defeat to - ironically - Barcelona.
The rumors, however, refused to go away - growing in intensity after Henry revealed his disappointment at Dein's departure.
The 29-year-old recently admitted he was flattered to be linked with European champions AC Milan, but poured scorn on reports he had already agreed a deal with Barca.
Henry, who missed the final two months of last season through injury, said less than a fortnight ago: "Last season, people were announcing all over the place that I was leaving.
"Some people wrote that it would happen for sure but at the end of the day I stayed at Arsenal. It could be the same this year. I have not taken any decision and my name is not up on any departures board. If something happens, I will tell everybody."
One particular report in France prompted his agent Jerome Anderson to order legal action against the publication involved.
Anderson, however, refused to comment on last night's developments, while there was also no official word from Arsenal.
The news about Henry came on top of further speculation about Wenger's own future, with Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon claiming the Frenchman was on their shortlist of targets should Fabio Capello leave the Bernabeu.
