Business Standard

'Arsenal have enough money to break club's record transfer'

Image

IANS London

English football club Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has the financial support to break its transfer record this season, the team's director Lord Harris said on Friday.

Harris said the money has now been made available to Wenger for splashing it on any player he wants. Arsenal finished fourth in the English Premier league last year.

"We would back him to break the club's transfer record. If he wanted the man, he could have him," Harris was quoted as saying by bbc.co.uk.

"Apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he could have any player."

Wenger has been at the helm of Arsenal since 1996. He had a brilliant first 10 years at the club, winning the English Premier League undefeated in 2003-04.

 

But his team just had two trophies in the next nine years. In total he has three Premier League titles and five FA Cup triumphs to his credit.

Wenger signed Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil for 42.4 million pounds to break their club record by 27.4 million pounds in September 2013.

He also spent 35 million pounds on Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez last season.

"We could go into the market and probably buy any player in the world, apart from half a dozen who are unbuyable. We get a list of the players that Wenger wants. On the list is a centre forward, but I'm not going to tell you who he is," said Harris.

"You've got to get the other team to want to sell him, but I think he wants to come. It basically comes down to whether the other team can find a superstar to replace him, because they don't have to sell."

Arsenal roped in goalkeeper Petr Cech from fellow English club Chelsea in a deal worth about 10 million pounds in the ongoing transfer season this year.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Jul 24 2015 | 4:26 PM IST

Explore News