WITH the double now safely in the bag, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is now a wanted man. However, he has already turned down three massive managerial offers and is ready to commit himself to Highbury for the next six years.
It is believed France wanted him to come home and pick up the international reins from Aime Jacquet after the World Cup, with two major European clubs - thought to include Real Madrid - also interested in him.
A lucrative new #6m five-year extension on his contract beckons and the Highbury board believe he will sign the new deal by next month. ''As long as I have the freedom to work like I want I will stay,'' said Wenger.
''If the spirit is right, as it is now, and I can decide what's important for the club, I'll stay, of course. But I wouldn't want to work in difficult conditions.''
As early as Tuesday, Wenger will be in Amsterdam ahead of the European Cup final, making plans to improve his squad before they enter into the Champions' League. ''I think we're at the start of something,'' he said. ''Now, hopefully before the World Cup, I want to bring one or two players in.
''It was something I started to think about two months ago. But anybody who comes will have to fight for their position and integrate into the team.
''Sometimes you bring them in and then decide you're not stronger than you were before. That's why I want to keep all my players - so that the team will not be weakened.'' One major challenge might be to keep Ian Wright, who was left on the sidelines at Wembley.
The hints have been that Wright, aware that he is already behind Dennis Bergkamp and Nicolas Anelka in the pecking order, perhaps behind Chris Wreh too, wants out.
But Wenger, like Glenn Hoddle, feels his value to the squad is immense and he said: ''I hope he'll stay. I want to keep Ian Wright. He's told me he would be happy to stay so I hope he will.''
Including Wright, nine of Arsenal's team dragged themselves away from a tumultuous victory parade through the streets of Highbury to pursue their World Cup dreams in a series of friendlies. However, the omission of Ray Parlour from the England squad leaves Frenchman Patrick Viera baffled. Parlour produced the performance of a lifetime to win the man of the match award as the champions defeated Newcastle United 2-0 in the FA Cup Final.
Vieira, who flies to Paris tomorrow to discover his own World Cup fate, said: ''I find it very hard to understand why Ray is not even in the last 30 for England. He's a great player and has been fantastic all season. But if one manager doesn't like what you do then it is very difficult.''
Parlour, though, accepts the decision. ''It's too late for me with England. I know that and I've already booked my holiday this summer. I wasn't in the 30 players picked last week for the game against Saudi Arabia next Saturday and if you can't do that you've got no more hope left.''
Dennis Bergkamp, despite missing the Wembley triumph with a hamstring injury, has told Holland he will be fit for the World Cup. The striker, who has scored 22 goals this season, said: ''Trying to get fit for the final has probably set me back a week, but in two or three more I'll be fully fit again.''
David Seaman, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Ian Wright will all report for England duty this week, while Bergkamp and Marc Overmars are already assured of places in the Dutch squad.
Vieira, Anelka and Emmanuel Petit will join up with France for a tournament in Morocco, after which coach Aime Jacquet must cut six players from his provisional 28 for the World Cup finals.
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