CHRIS LAKEY Glenn Roeder believes he may have a useful ally in Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.The Canaries boss, who describes Wenger as "the best manager in the world", was rumoured to have been lined up for a job with Arsenal in the summer, but at the moment would settle for a chance to help nurture one of the Premiership giants' rising stars.

CHRIS LAKEY

Glenn Roeder believes he may have a useful ally in Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The Canaries boss, who describes Wenger as "the best manager in the world", was rumoured to have been lined up for a job with Arsenal in the summer, but at the moment would settle for a chance to help nurture one of the Premiership giants' rising stars.

And that's where his relationship with the Frenchman - pictured below - could prove fruitful.

"All I know is that as and when, if Arsene can ever help Norwich and me I think he will," said Roeder. "I have no promises, but I think he will."

Roeder has been linked with a loan move for teenage French defender Armand Traore as one of the "three or four" players he intends bringing to Norwich during the January transfer window.

But he's not alone.

"I think at the last count there are 27 clubs or something that have been linked with him," said Roeder, who missed out on Traore during his time as Newcastle manager, when he was due to take him on loan.

"He is a fabulous player, he is good enough to play in Arsenal's team now, as he proved when he played against Blackburn. He was a Rolls-Royce at left back, a fantastic player.

"We will be exploring the loan system and some permanent transfers as well, but it won't be an easy market. I think there are a few other Championship managers that have been promised money. If I can justify why I need to spend money I think I would be supported as well, but you never tell anybody how much because you don't want the rest of the world to know that."

Roeder is currently working on retaining all four of his loan players, with Ched Evans' future at Carrow Road likely to be decided on Thursday when the young striker meets with Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Roeder, who is also waiting on Jimmy Smith's meeting with Chelsea boss Avram Grant, is keen to extend the 19-year-old's deal until the end of the season.

"I really hope he comes back because I love working with him and I can only see the benefit of him staying with us and playing senior football," he said.

"I can't see any benefit in going back to Manchester City and playing in the reserves, but that might not be Sven's opinion and that's the only opinion that counts, what he thinks.

"I am just hopeful, very hopeful, that Sven will send him back to us after he has had a meeting with him on Thursday."

Roeder is confident of being able to keep hold of the pair, plus Derby defender Mo Camara, while he is pursuing a deal to bring Matty Pattison in from Newcastle on a permanent deal.

But everything depends on the four managers involved and Roeder admits that if things don't go his way it could make life "uncomfortable".

"It would be uncomfortable to find ourselves in that position, minus those four players, and I am positive all four at the moment will still be with us, while adding three or four players - hopefully I can get two or three out," said Roeder. "It is going to be a busy time and January is not a good time to do business."