Looking towards Arsenal’s challenging opening fixture against Liverpool on Sunday, Wenger said(as per Guardian) the sport “has to be a bit bigger” than a cycle of spending and sacking, before going on to predict the imminent arrival of the first £200m player.
Arsene Wenger has predicted that football will soon break the £200 million barrier for a single transfer, as he insisted Arsenal could still compete in the money-dominated sport.
With clubs’ revenue from television and sponsorship deals continually rising, Wenger claims it will not be long before that figure is eclipsed.
And Wenger, whose biggest outlay in the transfer windows after his arrival have been Granit Xhaka, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, only sees an upward trend in prices for the future.
When asked how long it may take before a club spends £150 million or £200 million on a player, the Arsenal manager said:
Not long. I have said that since I have been in the game at some point it has to stop, but as long as football continues to develop and become more popular more money will come in.
What is interesting to see is that today, you have a local business and you just want to survive or you have a world business and the money comes in, whether it is Google, Facebook, football or any other sport, they are worldwide so you can’t set any limitations in the income.
If football continues to be popular it may become much higher in the future.” The new spending power of Premier League clubs has led to what many believe will be the most open title race for years this season.
Wenger believes this season will be the most open title race in years. He said:
Never before have there been eight or nine clubs who can win it,
That can make it easier as well because everybody can drop points. There won’t be one team who just walks away and that nobody can catch. The hope will be alive in the Premier League for everybody for longer than ever and so on that front, if you are consistent, it can also be easier.
Arsene Wenger is of the opinion that defender is currently the highest priority given injuries to centre-back pairing Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, and with Laurent Koscielny not ready after his run to the final of Euro 2016 with France.
Although he said that,
I have a few options as you’ve seen in pre-season,
The players available at the moment are quite young but they’re keen to do it.
Rob Holding may get a start in the first match of the Premier League for Arsenal. Wenger said:
He has played in the Championship, which is good experience. Now he has to deal with one level higher.
Wenger and Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign against Liverpool on Sunday. Hope we get a great start to the Premier League and round it off with a new signing.
