Real step up Henry hunt

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez today added to speculation that he is targetting Thierry Henry by confirming he wants to sign the best player in the world next summer.

Henry is one of three candidates for FIFA's World Player of the Year award, along with Real stars Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said this week that the French striker is not for sale at any price, even £100million, but no club have been able to resist Real's overtures in the last few years.

The Spanish champions have signed Luis Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham in successive summers over the last four years and Perez is understood to already have his next "Galactico" - the name given to Madrid's mega-star players - in mind.

He said: "As usual, next year we want to bring the best player there is in the world. This project is based on signing the best player in the world each year."

Perez is expected to stand for re-election as Real president when his four-year tenure ends next summer and bringing another star to the Bernabeu would form a key part of his campaign.

Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved and Michael Owen are other potential targets.