The 23-year-old Ribery, who rose to prominence when helping France reach the finals of this year's World Cup, was linked to a 10 million pound move to Arsenal this summer and another to French champions Lyon but eventually stayed put at Marseille.

But his agent Bruno Heiderscheid believes the man billed as the new Zinedine Zidane could be playing his club football alongside his friend and fellow Bleu Thierry Henry in 2007.

Heiderscheid told Sunday's News of the World: "(Arsene) Wenger likes Ribery a lot. He wanted to take him this summer but Marseille refused to sell.

"Arsene has made it clear he wants to take him next year."

While insisting that there has been no contact between the player and the Gunners Heiderscheid says Ribery is keen for a move to the north London giants.

He told the paper: "Franck would very much like to join Arsenal because of Arsene, the style of football they play and because his very close friend from the France team, Thierry Henry, plays for them.

"I can categorically deny there is any agreement with Arsenal at this stage or even negotiations.

"These would have to take place in January at the earliest as we see how the season progresses with Marseille.

"Franck is now a very big player in Europe and it's true the biggest clubs want him badly."

Ribery joined Marseille in the summer of 2005 from Turkish outfit Galatasary and has four years left to run of his contract at the Veldrome.