SS Lazio still keen on Anelka

SS Lazio still want to sign Nicolas Anelka from Arsenal after a week of complicated wrangling between themselves, the London club and Real Madrid.

Lazio owner Sergio Cragnotti has cleared executive Vincenzo Morabito to talk again with Arsenal after a £25 million deal to sign the French star collapsed two days ago over the £6.5 million down payment from Real to sign the player.

Arsenal will meet Anelka in Paris before the end of the week to discuss his future of the striker who has been on holiday in Martinique. The Premiership club deny knowledge of the Real payment and the money appears only linked to Anelka's brothers Claude and Didier who act as agents for their younger brother.

Arsenal claim any Real bid was made illegal after an unsolicited approach from the Spanish club. They have reported Real to FIFA for breaches of the transfer regulations in their attempts to sign Anelka and say they want the moody young striker to stay with them.

If Anelka decides to follow through on his intention to leave London then the bid by Lazio is back on although the player has said he only wants to move to Real Madrid. The confusion has blocked Arsenal's attempts to add to their squad in the summer and bids for Newcastle United midfielder Dietmar Hamann and Juventus striker Thierry Henry have all stalled while the Anelka business is sorted out. But Arsenal do hope to sign TSV 1860 Munich midfielder Stefan Malz in the next ten days.