Wenger - Woody move never on

Wenger: Woodgate link was news to him

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal were never interested in making a move for Tottenham's Jonathan Woodgate.

Wenger has admitted he is looking for a centre-back with plenty of potential targets being mentioned before the Arsenal boss was reported to be considering a surprise move for the injury-plagued Woodgate.

The 31-year-old England international is coming back to full fitness after making just three league starts since the beginning of last season.

But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said on Monday that Spurs want to keep Woodgate, who is out of contract in the summer.

And although Wenger admits he is a fan of Woodgate, he claims signing the former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid defender was never an option.

"We were not after Woodgate, who I like as a player, but we are not after him," he told the club's official website.

"That was not on our mind at all, [it was] completely out of the blue."