WENGER CAN ONLY SPEND HALF £135m IN COFFERS

ARSENAL have £135million in the bank — but will only give Arsene Wenger half of it to strengthen his squad this summer. The Gunners manager wants to recruit a brand new spine for his team ahead of what could be his final season at the club. Arsenal posted cash reserves of £135m last week but only around £70m will be made available to Wenger as he tries to close the gap on Europe’s elite clubs. The hierarchy believe in prudence to safeguard the club’s future, whatever the pressure from fans. But with Pep Guardiola set to spend heavily at Manchester City, Chelsea’s new manager to be handed a £150m transfer fund and Manchester United to embark on another £100m-plus spree, Arsenal could be left trailing in the market. The amount of money available to his top-four rivals has always been a source of frustration for Wenger (right). After Sunday’s 3-2 loss to United, he said: ‘They had a very experienced midfield and have spent a lot of money.’ The size of Arsenal’s transfer kitty will raise queries from disgruntled fans, particularly given next season’s record TV deal. Arsenal, who only made one signing last summer — the £10m capture of Petr Cech from Chelsea — are planning to use the extra TV income to secure new deals for their best players, including Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Wenger wants a centre-half, holding midfield and striker this summer. Former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, plus N’Golo Kante, John Stones, PierreEmerick Aubameyang and Odion Ighalo have all been scouted recently.