Sport 23-12-2003 Campbell Offered Five Year Deal who: Sol Campbell what: Offered five year extension on his Arsenal contract where: Highbury, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Arsene Wenger has opened contract talks with Sol Campbell aimed at securing Arsenal’s long- term future," says The Sun. "The Gunners boss has already wrapped up Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires on new lengthy deals. He is now ready to tempt England central defender Campbell to sign for another five-year term with a whopping £10,000-a-week rise." There are varying repors that Campbell is being offered a deal until 2008 or 2009. "We are talking to Sol about a new contract," says Wenger, quoted in The Guardian. "Those talks are at a very early stage but I am optimistic. He has been a fantastic signing for us and I hope he will stay even longer than his present deal." "The centre-back, who has won the domestic double in 2002, as well as the FA Cup last season, would no doubt be looking for a wage rise," says The Evening Standard`s website, thisislondon.com, "even though his current salary is rumoured to be about 100,000 a week due to a large signing-on fee after his Bosman free transfer." [... more]

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