adminLONDON. — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will try to tie up a deal for Bayern Munich’s £14 million midfielder Luiz Gustavo this week after admitting the club finally need to start spending in the transfer window. In fact, Arsenal are on the verge of agreeing a £14 million deal to land Bayern Munich’s Brazilian international Gustavo.
The Gunners have moved ahead of Chelsea and Wolfsburg in the race to sign the 26-year-old.
And Arsene Wenger insists that he still hasn’t given up hope on prising Luis Suarez away from Liverpool.
Gustavo, who has already been capped 10 times by Brazil and played in their Confederations Cup triumph earlier this summer, is expected to seal a deal before next week’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa at the Emirates.
Wenger said: “There is nothing concrete — at the moment.
“We want to play 55 games this season and I think we are a little bit thin squad-wise.
“I also haven’t given up hope on Suarez. If I read what people are saying about him, then maybe I would give up. But we will do it the right way.
“I am an optimist. That’s why I do this job. We have kept the squad together for the first time in many years so I am happy.”
Wenger admits his squad are not strong enough to cope with a Premier League-Champions League double whammy and is ready for action after a quiet summer, which has seen only French youngster Yaya Sanogo come in.
Gustavo missed Bayern’s first Bundesliga match of the season and, pressed whether there was a strong interest, Wenger said: “It’s as you say.”
However, reports that the Brazilian had already signed were not confirmed by the Arsenal manager, who said: “There is nothing concrete yet.”
Gustavo said about Arsenal: “I believe that the English Premier League is of top quality and Arsenal definitely stand out.
“I love their (Arsenal’s) style of play and I have been watching them for some time now.
“However, like yourself I do not know what is happening on the other side at this moment.”
Wenger made it clear to his board that he wants players, with Arsenal starting their league season against Aston Villa on Saturday before meeting Fenerbahce in a massively important Champions League play-off match.
“We hope to play 55 games this season. We are a little bit thin squad-wise,” he said. “But I am an optimist. This is the first time for many years that we have kept all our important players at the club.”
The chase for Suarez is looking increasingly unlikely to be successful, however, following Liverpool owner John W Henry’s assertion that he was “unequivocal” about refusing to sell to the Londoners following a bid of £40 000 001. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter