Daily Mail

Now the bidding war for Wenger’s book

-

ARSENE WENGER’S departure from Arsenal at the end of the season will focus minds again on sports book publishing’s longest race — the one to bring out the great manager’s autobiogra­phy.

Wenger has received numerous offers to write a book since leading Arsenal to the Double in 1997-98, which was his first full season here.

But the Frenchman has declined every approach, telling insiders he will wait until he has retired before giving his account of becoming British football’s most successful foreign boss.

The demand for Wenger’s life story, which is likely to be written by one of his French media friends, would come with seven-figure advance offers. That would put him on a par with great managerial rival Sir Alex Ferguson, who raked in similar figures for his two autobiogra­phies — although Manchester United books always sell better than Arsenal ones.

The global interest in Wenger is reflected in the last biography about him — written by English journalist and Arsenal expert John Cross in 2015 — having been translated into 11 languages.

Wenger’s agent Leon Angel said yesterday that it was not the time to talk about the 68-year-old writing that elusive book.

Wisden, TWICKENHAM’S troubled East Stand redevelopm­ent, designed to bring all RFU corporate hospitalit­y under one roof, has gone 60 per cent over budget and is still not finished.

RFU councillor­s were told yesterday the proposed £51m has shot up to £82m, which is partly due to extra costs involved in combating terror attacks and beefed-up cladding requiremen­ts post-grenfell. Meanwhile, the RFU have countered criticism of the £195 top-priced seats for the England v New Zealand autumn internatio­nal by announcing there will be children’s tickets available for £20.

The conspiracy theory about yesterday’s Arsene Wenger announceme­nt revolved around sluggish season-ticket sales and corporate hospitalit­y, which fits in with absentee owner Stan Kroenke only getting concerned if the finances are affected. But Arsenal deny this, and point to there being a big waiting list for such tickets.

 ??  ?? Cricket bible which prides itself on attention to detail, has every right to feel let down by ECB chief executive Tom Harrison (right). His commission­ed article, effectivel­y promoting the new ECB competitio­n as a Twenty20 event, was submitted in...
Cricket bible which prides itself on attention to detail, has every right to feel let down by ECB chief executive Tom Harrison (right). His commission­ed article, effectivel­y promoting the new ECB competitio­n as a Twenty20 event, was submitted in...
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom