Arsenal will ask Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry to attempt to persuade Patrick Vieira to turn down Real Madrid when he links up with his team-mates for their pre-season tour this week.

The Highbury board believed they had tied up Vieira's services when he signed a four-year deal last summer worth £116,000 per week. But the directors have been wrong-footed by the revival of the Spanish club's interest in their captain, and it is thought Henry and Campbell will make their plea on the pre-season tour of Austria.

After three years of persistent overtures from Madrid, the France midfielder is minded this time to accede, sparking the possibility of a £30 million move to the Bernabeu. Vieira has been flattered by the long interest of the Madrid president Florentino Perez and is said to feel that, at 28, he has entered his prime.

Having led Arsenal to arguably the most successful season in their history last season, when they went 38 domestic matches unbeaten, Vieira believes it will be easier to motivate himself with a new challenge. That is something Perez is hoping to use as leverage, and he has enlisted France captain Zinedine Zidane as his intermediary.

"I spoke with the president because he asked me for information on Patrick," said Zidane. "I just said to him, like everybody else, that Vieira is one of the best at this position."

It will now be up to Arsenal's senior players Campbell and Henry - and the manager Arsene Wenger - to persuade Vieira his future still lies with them when he links up with the team after Thursday's friendly against the Slovenian side NK Maribor.

That might not be easy, though.Arsenal have yet to discuss details of their proposals to the England centre-half Campbell who, with 10 months to run on his contract, has attracted interest from Juventus and Chelsea, though the champions have indicated he must accept a pay cut if he is to stay.