Arsenal To Hand Wenger $166M Transfer Budget For Key Signings

EPL Arsenal Owner Stan Kroenke "remains steadfast" in his belief that Manager Arsène Wenger "is the man to lead Arsenal into a new era of success and is ready to entrust his manager with the largest transfer budget in the club’s history," according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH. Wenger’s position "has been the subject of renewed debate." Kroenke’s analysis of Arsenal "is utterly unmoved." Kroenke "is convinced that the club have made very definite progress this season and is sympathetic to how Wenger has been forced to navigate this past month without as many as five of his usual starting team." Kroenke will make transfer funds of around £100M ($166M) available "for key signings, notably a striker and holding midfielder." Kroenke "also remains relaxed about Wenger’s own future and, although some contingency thinking has been done, every plan is being made on the basis that Wenger will extend a contract that expires at the end of the season" (TELEGRAPH, 4/1).