Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been told in no uncertain terms that he will have to sell in order to buy.
Such is the uncertainty at the club, behind closed doors that the board will not release significant funds to enable a manager, who may leave before his contract extension expires, to buy wildly.
Wenger is obviously unconcerned by this because he has had to endure financial handcuffs before, but he will have to move quickly if he is to secure the cash for Brazilian winger Malcom and defender Jonny Evans.
The Evan’s deal is in the balance due to Manchester City’s last minute intervention but he will cost £25 million. Malcom, the Brazilian winger currently with Bordeaux, will be available for around £45 to 46.5 Million.
Wenger’s revised spendings plans will now largely depend on who goes out the door and Theo Walcott is likely to be next for £20 Million. So the sums indicate that with the sale of the ineffective Francis Coquelin for £22 Million, Wenger is already around three or four million short depending on the eventual fee.
So Wenger would have to sell again purchase defender Jonny Evans, meaning that despite Wenger’s previous declarations about Giroud, he would listen to offers of around £18 to 20 million.
With the sale of Sanchez and possibly Ozil, Wenger would at least attempt one more purchase. There have been reports that Mkhitaryan might join Arsenal in Sanchez swap deal. If that doesn’t happen, then Leon Goretzka would be an ideal reinforcement and would only require a large signing on fee.
His signature would also go some way to convincing Ozil that Arsenal were heading in the right direction for him to extend his stay. Goretzka is highly regarded and a host of clubs will be desperately trying to land the German which is a disadvantage to Arsenal.
They trail behind a host of international clubs that have greater potential to win the top trophies but the chance to play with Ozil could make any approach a more tempting proposition.
This is all if’s, buts and maybe’s but Wenger can still wheel and deal but time is not on his side. The Arsenal board may yet yield due to fan pressure and facilitate a transfer on the understanding that the money they recoup from any sales goes straight back in the account.
This will mean that Wenger will have to climb down on keeping either Sanchez or Ozil and has privately resigned himself to losing one , if not both.
If Wenger appears slightly vague when asked about transfer intentions and activity , this latest news should go some way to explaining why.
