ARSENAL MANAGER Arsene Wenger claims he is unaware of any potential bid from a Middle Eastern consortium to take control of the club.
Reports emerged yesterday that the Gunners were set to be the subject of an imminent takeover bid from a combined Qatari and Abu Dhabi-based group that would offer around €1.73 billion for the club at approximately €23,000 per share.
The consortium are reportedly prepared to make huge funds available to Wenger to spend on new players in the transfer market, as well as lower season ticket prices for supporters in an attempt to improve the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium.
However, speaking to reporters after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the north London derby to leave them seven points behind their rivals in the race for Champions League football, Wenger denied any knowledge.
“I don’t know anything about it, I heard it like you (in the newspapers),” the Frenchman said. “You are only vulnerable if you want to sell and you need money. (However), that doesn’t concern me at all, that is down to the owners.”
The majority of Arsenal’s shares are currently owned by Stan Kronke, who paid over €490m to take control of nearly 67 per cent of the club in April 2011 and is said to be extremely unwilling to part with his stake in the club, having received no official or unofficial offer thus far.
Kronke has been criticised by the club’s supporters for presiding over a period in which star players such as Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song have been sold to major rivals with their immediate replacements deemed to not be of the same calibre.
