Lens hope to keep Vairelles from Juve

Any move by Juventus to sign Lens striker Tony Vairelles is set to flounder on the French champion's European ambitions.

Lens beat Arsenal 1-0 last night and are in contention to progress to the last eight of the Champions league next spring. Juventus representatives saw Vairelles produce an outstanding display of hard running in the attack but he was sent-off in injury time. The French club are to appeal against the dismissal to UEFA. They believe that Arsenal defender Lee Dixon pretended to be hit in the face by Vairelles when video replays suggest the Frenchman did not raise a hand or touch the English player. A UEFA committe will rule on the matter next week.

Lens play Kiev in their final group game on December 9th and if the dismissal is upheld then Vairelles will be suspended for that game. Lens want Vairelles to stay with them as long as possible but a bid from Juventus to solve their striking problems would tempt the club. They will not sell while they remain in the Champions competition though and that may force Juve to look elsewhere in their search for a player to help the attack in the absence of injured star Alessandro Del Piero.