Arsene Wenger: Keeping the Players We Have is the First Priority

(This entry was originally published on Saturday, January 10th, 2009)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he will not sell any player in January transfer window and his first priority is to ensure the current players stay at the club, before going to buy new player. For the last couple of weeks, there was a rumor that Kolo Toure was going to leave Arsenal and join Manchester City, who were reportedly ready to pay about £10 million for Toure, following Toure’s recent fall out with former captain William Gallas. After that Toure also requested Arsenal for a move, but later on he came out of his stand and decided to stay. Perhaps, that is the reason, Wenger handed Kolo Toure the captain’s arm band in Arsenal’s recent 1-0 premier league victory over Bolton Wanderers in the absence of injured regular captain Cesc Fabregas.

Arsene Wenger has also hinted that he would not buy any defender in January and it seems that his only target in January transfer window is Russian striker Andrei Arshavin. Arsenal has reported made a bid of £12m for the Zenit midfielder, but the amount is still unmatched with £20 million demanded by Zenit. Wenger has also warned Zenit that Arsenal can not spend the money that they don’t have. Now, let us see if Andrei Arshavin can really move to Arsenal in January transfer window.

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