Wenger in French job link

Wenger (r) with England manager Sven Goran Eriksson

Michel Platini, vice-president of the French Football Federation, believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is the ideal replacement for current national coach Roger Lemerre.

Wenger's five-year deal as Highbury manager is set to expire at the end of the season and despite saying that he will sign a new contract he has yet to do so.

"I don't think you should stay any longer than three or four years when you are a coach and Arsene has been at Arsenal longer than that," Platini told the News of the World.

Arsene needs to want the job

Michel Platini

"You can only take a club so far and then you need a change.

"He has always moved onto the next challenge."

Lemerre guided France to victory in the Euro 2000 championship in Holland last year, and is currently preparing to defend Les Bleus' World Cup crown.

He will step down after the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Platini has begun search for Lemerre's replacement

Platini, a former French captain, is also an influential advisor to Fifa chief Sepp Blatter.

He added: "Is Arsene a clever man? Yes, in that case he will leave.

"I am vice-president of the French federation and we know we have to find a new coach after the World Cup.

"But Arsene needs to want the job."