Arsene Wenger has insisted that “money is never a problem” for Arsenal in the transfer market but hinted that he will have to make do with the players he has for next weekend’s Premier League start.
Wenger remains eager to sign a centre-back and a striker after only making one major signing this summer in midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Arsenal’s options will be further limited for the game against Liverpool next Sunday as France duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny will not be available, but Wenger said he is struggling to find the right targets.
Arsenal have been linked with moves for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi but Wenger said after Arsenal’s 8-0 win over Viking: “It’s not the prices, it’s the players.
“The money is never a problem if you have to pay what is requested.
“The price of a player is down to four ingredients. One is the talent, two his age, three is how much you expect him to improve your team, and four his resale value. If he ticks all four boxes then the price is not that important. You have to find the player.”
While Germany international Mesut Ozil will also miss the Liverpool game, and Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez have only just returned to training, Wenger said there was no cause for “panic.”
“At the moment I’m focused on the players we have. Today we didn’t have Ramsey, Xhaka, Alexis — he will play on Sunday,” Wenger said, looking ahead to the game against Manchester City in Gothenburg, Sweden.
“We still have Ozil at home, and Giroud and Koscielny too. We also have young players who came on and did well. We do not have to panic but we are on alert in the transfer market so that we can make the right move when the opportunity comes up.”
Wenger also hinted that Jack Wilshere could be ready for the start of the season after sitting out the trip to Scandinavia with a minor knee problem.
“Jack has started running again today. He will train next week,” he said.
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