Wenger Expects ‘Quiet’ Summer In Transfer Market

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expecting a quiet summer of transfer activity not only at Arsenal, but throughout Europe.

Speaking to Arsenal.com on Friday, Wenger said that after securing the signing of Lukas Podolski from FC Cologne his attention will now turn to dealing with internal matters. Top of his priority list is getting players like Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby back to full fitness, while it’s also expected he will be sorting out the contract situations of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Alex Song.

However, fear not Gooners, there is still hope of more fresh faces at the Emirates as Wenger also claimed he will look to cut his squad to make room for “one or two” further additions. So hopefully that means he’ll be getting rid of the ‘dead wood’ like Alumina, Squillaci, Park, Chamakh, Arshavin, Vela and Bendtner, and bring in M’Vila and hopefully Jan Vertonghen.

Wenger told Arsenal Player:

“We have already bought Podolski and we have bought five players during the season when it had already started,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.

“Our job will be focused on inside [matters] now we have Podolski. That means to get Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby back in a healthy situation and then I believe we have quite a big squad. It will be [our intention] to trim a little bit and if possible add one or two players.”

The Frenchman went on to say that he feels this summers transfer market will be a quiet one due to the 25-man squad limit imposed, as well as the economic situation affecting much of Europe. Interestingly, Arsene claimed that he gets the feeling that even the ‘big spenders’ are looking to cut back on their transfer activity. So maybe Man City won’t be spending another £100m this summer! He continued:

“I believe that the summer will be quiet for many reasons,” he added. “First of all in England you have a 25-man limited squad number. Secondly the financial situation all over Europe is really bad and in some countries they have other worries than football. Therefore I expect it to be quiet.

“In our job, and this is like a football match, it is not completely predictable. But on the vibes I get even from the clubs who are big spenders, they all want to slow down.”