Wenger in the dark over Arsenal takeover reports

Mar 4, 2013 7:45:00 AM

The under-pressure Gunners' boss claims to have no knowledge of reports linking the club to a €1.73 billion takeover bid by a Middle Eastern consortium

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 on Sunday 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.


ARSENAL LATEST
7/1	The Gunners are 7/1 with BetVictor to finish this season as the highest-placed London club in the Premier League

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 told reporters.

"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 €490 million 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.

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Real Madrid are better off without Mourinho
The Portuguese's position had become untenable in recent weeks, especially after Friday's debacle in the Copa del Rey. Now he's leaving, but the club can grow stronger without him
Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley
Now or never for Wenger to seal legacy
The Gunners sealed a place in next season's Champions League with victory at Newcastle on Sunday - and must now spend money to improve the squad over the summer
And Goal.com's World Player of the Week is ...
Check out which star man gets the nod from our panel of experts this week ...
Goal's Serie A awards for 2012-13
Goal crowns the best and worst from Italy over the course of the season