Arsene Wenger has told a beIN Sports reporter that he will stay at Arsenal for the forseeable future, and according to a report he will have a large chunk of money to spend in the summer.
Wenger was asked if he would stay past the end of the season during an appearance on beIN Sport. Initially, he reverted into his usual coach-speak answer.
“Look, I’ve said that many times already, I’ve given my word to this club and I want to continue where I am,” Wenger said. Then after a bit of a pause, he said, “That means to stay.”
There have been numerous reports that Wenger would sign a contract extension with the Gunners, but the longer things have dragged on without his signature the more speculation has trickled out that he could be off.
However, with Paris Saint-Germain resigning Laurent Blanc, possible destinations for Wenger are at a minimum anyways, and with the Gunners in command of their Champions League future, it’s sensible that he would return.
With managerial turnover at an all-time high across European soccer and especially England, Wenger called for managerial stability in the game, and his actions have certainly adhered to that sentiment.
In addition to Wenger’s signature, the Daily Mail is reporting Arsenal brass will hand the Frenchman up to $118 million in transfer fees this summer.
Gunner fans should take these reports with a grain of salt, as reports of a transfer kitty are always difficult to trust. Last summer, a massive spending spree was widely reported throughout England, and until Wenger pulled the trigger on a record purchase of Mesut Ozil in the final days of the window, things were slow at the offices in the Emirates.
There will certainly be some big names available this summer. The Mail report tabs one of those as Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic. Depsite Bayern’s every attempt to play down Mandzukic rumors, his name will certainly continue to be thrown around with the arrival of Robert Lewandowski at Allianz Arena.
