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Wenger rules out spending big on players
Source: Agencies |
January 4, 2009, Sunday
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ARSENE Wenger will carry on developing young talent rather than pay huge transfer fees for big-name signings, the Arsenal manager said on Friday.
"What we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of 30 million (US$43.30 million) to 40 million pounds because that is not realistic," Wenger told the club's Website.
"I can cite you players in the last 10 or 15 years who have cost 30 million and have been a flop."
Arsenal is fifth in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, and fans have urged Wenger to add new faces to his squad in the January transfer window.
However the Frenchman, who built his reputation on developing youngsters like Nicolas Anelka, Cesc Fabregas and Patrick Vieira, has faced a tighter financial regime since the club's expensive Emirates Stadium was built in 2006.
"We have gone for a policy that is to develop our young players ... and not listen to everybody (in the media) who comes out every day with a new name," said Wenger.
"It is not necessarily linked that you spend 30 million (pounds) and get a massive player."
Wenger's latest crop of youngsters could get another opportunity to show their worth in the FA Cup third round match at home to Championship (second division) side Plymouth Argyle.
Meanwhile, England and Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge yesterday became Manchester City's first signing of the January transfer window.
"I played alongside him at Southampton and I saw him come through the ranks. He was an outstanding young player and he's progressed year on year in his career," manager Mark Hughes told City's Website.
Bridge, who has 32 England caps, joined Chelsea from Southampton for 7 million pounds (US$10.10 million) in 2003 but struggled to hold down a regular first-team place after the arrival of Ashley Cole from Arsenal in 2006.
"What we need to focus on is continually developing and not live in dreamland where we are linked with players of 30 million (US$43.30 million) to 40 million pounds because that is not realistic," Wenger told the club's Website.
"I can cite you players in the last 10 or 15 years who have cost 30 million and have been a flop."
Arsenal is fifth in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, and fans have urged Wenger to add new faces to his squad in the January transfer window.
However the Frenchman, who built his reputation on developing youngsters like Nicolas Anelka, Cesc Fabregas and Patrick Vieira, has faced a tighter financial regime since the club's expensive Emirates Stadium was built in 2006.
"We have gone for a policy that is to develop our young players ... and not listen to everybody (in the media) who comes out every day with a new name," said Wenger.
"It is not necessarily linked that you spend 30 million (pounds) and get a massive player."
Wenger's latest crop of youngsters could get another opportunity to show their worth in the FA Cup third round match at home to Championship (second division) side Plymouth Argyle.
Meanwhile, England and Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge yesterday became Manchester City's first signing of the January transfer window.
"I played alongside him at Southampton and I saw him come through the ranks. He was an outstanding young player and he's progressed year on year in his career," manager Mark Hughes told City's Website.
Bridge, who has 32 England caps, joined Chelsea from Southampton for 7 million pounds (US$10.10 million) in 2003 but struggled to hold down a regular first-team place after the arrival of Ashley Cole from Arsenal in 2006.
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