ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger says he did not think Richard Wright would be available for transfer.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger says he did not think Richard Wright would be available for transfer.

Now the Highbury chief is in the throes of completing the final part of contract negotiations with agent Jonathan Barnett after the England keeper's £5 million fee had been agreed by Ipswich.

Wenger abandoned a bid to sign Feyenoord's Polish international keeper Jerzy Dudek after the Dutch club demanded £10 million for him. This was twice Arsenal's valuation.

Wenger said: "Dudek was our first choice as we did not think that Richard would be available. But we have hit a major financial obstacle with Feyenoord and now Ipswich have agreed we can talk to Richard.

"I think he might join us and add to our English base at the club."