Kroenke Lifts Lid On Transfer Plans

Arsenal director Josh Kroenke has said that the club are looking to sign “the next big thing” as opposed to established stars. Gunners boss Unai Emery is looking to bring in the club’s first major new face of the summer transfer window with top target Wilfried Zaha appearing to be out of their price range.

The Europa League final defeat against Chelsea in May means there will be no Champions League football for Arsenal next season and reports have claimed Emery’s spending has been restricted to £45million. Kroenke, son of the Arsenal owner Stan, is adamant that is not the case, although he suggested that they are looking to unearth some future gems as opposed to paying vast sums for “some of the top stars”.

Kroenke, who admitted that fans’ criticism is “hard to take” and has vowed that the family want to bring silverware to the club, said: “It’s no secret that we have a Champions League wage bill on a Europa League budget right now. That’s a fact. And one that we’re figuring out how to face internally at the moment.

“That doesn’t mean that my father or I have ever said anything about any restrictions on spending. We know where we need to be and we know the areas we need to address on the pitch. “It’s not who you buy, it’s how you buy. There’s multiple statements to say how to skin that cat.

“While we’re not going to be in the market for some of the top players in the world at the moment whilst they are the top players, we’re actively scouting the globe to find the next big thing to become great at Arsenal Football Club. And not only will we bring them to the club, we’ll be able to retain them in the fold going forward.”