Wenger: "Cheque book not big enough"

[NickHSpurs]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is more likely to spend his summer transfer kitty on the battle to keep hold of his Emirates Stadium stars.


Wenger has been watching Euro 2008 as he considers new signings to help the Gunners end a three-year wait for silverware and he has been linked with a £10million move for Russia ace Andrei Arshavin.

However, the Frenchman fears he will not have enough financial clout to compete with Europe's biggest clubs in the transfer market and confesses he will focus his attention on ensuring the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor remain in England.

Wenger - who was forced to watch on as Mathieu Flamini agreed a free transfer to Milan - now faces a battle to avoid losing Adebayor to a big-money move to the San Siro, but the Arsenal boss insists he will do all he can to keep hold of his star striker.

"I brought my cheque-book (to Euro 2008) but, having looked at the prices, I've realised it isn't big enough," Wenger - who is also hoping to keep hold of Alexander Hleb - said in the Sunday Mirror.

"I've not been surprised by the quality on show. There is a fantastic young generation of players coming through.

"But I will use my cheque-book first to keep the players I already have."


Discipline

Meanwhile, Togo captain Adebayor has been accused of a lack of discipline by his international boss Henri Stambouli.

"There is no discipline in our squad," Stambouli added. "Just look at our leader, Adebayor.

"He has not spent enough time with us in our team get-togethers and some of his team-mates have copied him by getting up to various escapades.

"We have a captain who is not fully integrated into the squad. I have had a stern talk with him and I hope things will soon turn normal."

 

[NickHSpurs]

Before you go writing them off, let's all remember what happened last season, but it appears the Goons do not have a great deal of cash to spend.

 

[bubble07]

i thought all cheque books are the same size?

 

[worcestersauce]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he is more likely to spend his summer transfer kitty on the battle to keep hold of his Emirates Stadium stars.


Wenger has been watching Euro 2008 as he considers new signings to help the Gunners end a three-year wait for silverware and he has been linked with a £10million move for Russia ace Andrei Arshavin.

However, the Frenchman fears he will not have enough financial clout to compete with Europe's biggest clubs in the transfer market and confesses he will focus his attention on ensuring the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor remain in England.

Wenger - who was forced to watch on as Mathieu Flamini agreed a free transfer to Milan - now faces a battle to avoid losing Adebayor to a big-money move to the San Siro, but the Arsenal boss insists he will do all he can to keep hold of his star striker.

"I brought my cheque-book (to Euro 2008) but, having looked at the prices, I've realised it isn't big enough," Wenger - who is also hoping to keep hold of Alexander Hleb - said in the Sunday Mirror.

"I've not been surprised by the quality on show. There is a fantastic young generation of players coming through.

"But I will use my cheque-book first to keep the players I already have."
-------------------------------


Or to put it another way I am desperate to buy players but I know that selling clubs will be demanding silly money so I'll get my opening gambit in and pretend I havent got much to spend.
Do I believe him no I don't, if he doesn't get the players he wants it will be because they didn't want to join him not because of the money.
Getting his excuses in first maybe.

 

[PT]

Yep. Good point. Wenger is long in the tooth and has probably tied up those players that he wants prior to the Euros, that's if those players are even in attendance.

There's talk of Adebayor and Hleb being scouted and that will concern him as there has been some drssing room unrest in the past that could be bubbling under the surface again.

 

[TheChosenOne]

This article in the Sunday Times may have some bearing on the subject..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article4187554.ece


From not wanting to have any dealings with the yank Kroenke ("his sort")
they are looking to get him on board, with the property/economic meltdown they may have to.