Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will face pressure to sign new players and spend significant money from the Gunners board in January, according to a report from The Daily Mirror.
Shareholders have apparently made it clear to the club’s directors that a major signing is required in January in order to appease fans and make a statement of intent as far as ambition is concerned.
Wenger has often stated that he will only buy when he feels that the price is right though, and adopts a famously thrifty approach to transfer dealings, favouring young talent over expensive established stars.
The Frenchman reportedly has West Ham United striker Carlton Cole, Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh and Toulouse’s Andre-Pierre Gignac on his hit list, but will not be held to ransom over any of those players.
He is said to feel that he can get Cole for £9 million because of the Hammers’ current financial woes. Toulouse are expected to demand more than £15m for Gignac.
Chamakh is a free agent in the summer though, which could reduce his price should the Gunners opt to move for him in January.
Shareholders have apparently informed The Mirror that a big signing may well be the only way to keep people onside with regard to Stan Kroenke’s expected takeover bid rather than Ulisher Usmanov being favoured.
American Kroenke this week acquired more shares to nudge him closer to the 29.99% figure needed to trigger an automatic takeover bid.
Usmanov’s Red & White Holdings own 26% of the shares in the club. The Uzbeki businessman called on Kroenke to make his intentions regarding any takeover known for the sake of the stability of the club.
Goal.com UK
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