Arsène Wenger could have £100m available to rebuild ailing Arsenal team
Arsène Wenger will be able to spend considerably more than the £50 million in the bank this summer, should he wish to, according to senior sources at Arsenal.
By Matt Scott and Luke Edwards 22 February 2012 • 22:00 pm
Money to burn: Arsene Wenger will have the funds to bring in players in the summer Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The club's owner, Stan Kroenke, would be willing to make new funds, described as between "£50 million and £100 million", available.
The source dismissed doubts Kroenke could afford to hand over the new cash, even at a time when he is said to be bidding for the LA Dodgers baseball franchise.
It is a surprising development since it comes only 10 months after he took over the club, and would be a significant departure from Kroenke's declared strategy.
One player who may be on his way in to the Emirates is Sunderland striker Stephane Sessegnon in the summer following an impressive first full season in the Premier League, which has attracted the attention of Wenger.
Sessegnon moved to Sunderland from Paris St-Germain for £6 million in January 2011 and has become a huge hit on Wearside, with manager Martin O'Neill describing his contribution since he arrived almost three months ago as "absolutely vital" to the team's recovery.
Sessegnon, 27, has also attracted interest from his former club PSG following their takeover by the Qatar Investment Authority, although the Benin international is keen to stay in the Premier League and would be interested in a move to Arsenal.
Sunderland, though, will fight to hold on to their playmaker and a bid in excess of £10 million will be needed to tempt them to sell.
Arsenal fans on Wednesday called for ticket prices for European football to be slashed next season if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Representatives of the Arsenal Supporters' Trust met club directors and, after the unpopular 6.5 per cent rise in prices last year, have also recommended a freeze on the cost of season tickets and tickets for Premier League matches.
The club's Champions League status is hanging in the balance and, should Arsenal only qualify for the Europa League, the AST believes that it must be reflected in the club's pricing policy for those matches.
Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg, meanwhile, have admitted that they would like to bring Arsenal's record signing, Andrei Arshavin, back to the club on loan.
The Russian transfer window closes on Thursday, but it is thought that Arsenal would prefer a permanent deal if they can recoup a significant proportion of the £13 million spent on him in 2009.
"Arshavin would interest us in terms of having him on loan," said Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov.
"The question is what Arsenal really want, would they want a loan deal?" Arshavin played for Arsenal's reserve team on Tuesday, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Norwich City.