Arsenal 'give up' in the transfer market.
Arsenal's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, admitted that the Gunners are not in a position to compete with the big clubs who are spending heavily on players.
While direct rivals like Man Utd, Man City, and Chelsea are constantly making big-money signings, Arsenal has been very quiet. Most recently, the London club had their meager $38 million offer for striker Alexandre Lacazette flatly rejected by Lyon. At the same time, another striker the Gunners were pursuing, Higuain, agreed to move to Juventus from Napoli.
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Xhaka is the only major signing Arsenal have made since the start of summer 2016. Photo: AFC. |
This reality is in stark contrast to Arsenal, who started the summer transfer window with a $50 million signing of Granit Xhaka. However, the Gunners subsequently faded into obscurity, only making minor signings for Tasumo Asano and center-back Rob Holding. The Emirates Stadium club's frugal transfer policy continues to be criticized as they have yet to bring in a top-class striker.
However, CEO Ivan Gazidis defended Arsenal's transfer policy: "We can't afford to beat our financially stronger competitors. Therefore, Arsenal must be very careful and selective in each transfer."
"We can't succeed by simply rushing into the market and trying to spend money recklessly. Arsenal""We are run in a self-sustaining manner, a policy we believe in because it ensures a secure future for the club and helps us outline plans for the club's future with firm conviction," the manager emphasized..
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Both Gazidis and Wenger believe in Arsenal's current cautious transfer policy. |
Alongside a cautious transfer policy, Gazidis also emphasized continued investment in the club's youth academy – a strategy he believes will yield results in the not-too-distant future.
"This year, Arsenal has invested over $26 million to develop the club's facilities, including training grounds for young players in the academy and the main training pitches. These are long-term investments for the club over the next 10, 15, 20 years," shared the Arsenal CEO.
Ivan Gazidis added that he fully supports manager Arsene Wenger and believes the French strategist will know how to handle the situation given the difficult budget circumstances.
According to VNE
