Wenger goal is to accumulate £20m summer war chest

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger has insisted he will save up his transfer funds this month to accumulate a £20 million summer war chest — and is not risking the title by doing so.

Wenger admitted his liking for Juan Pablo Angel and Jermain Defoe but maintained that it is now a “dangerous” time to enter the transfer window as he proclaimed the market to be “dead.”

Even with Sylvain Wiltord, Dennis Bergkamp and Jeremie Aliadiere injured and with Kanu soon due to leave for the African Nations’ Cup, he will still not be lured into splashing out on a striker.

Not just yet, in any case. For it is in the summer, when Wiltord, Bergkamp and Kanu are all out of contract, that Wenger insists that he is planning to invest in a new forward.

“We could spend £10 million but, at the moment, it’s very difficult to find players at the right price as there’s no transfer market,” Wenger revealed.

“I’m trying to make £20 million in June with the £10 million now. We’re saving the money until then.

“I like Angel and I like Defoe, with whom I’ve been linked as well, but I’ve not been in for anyone and not made a bid for anyone.” It remains to be seen whether Wenger makes a summer move for Aston Villa striker Angel, against whom his side will pit their wits tomorrow, but there was no hiding Wenger’s admiration for him.

“Once the ball is in the box, he’s a dangerous player as he has good timing and a good sense of anticipation from crosses,” he observed.

“For a while, he didn’t get his chance so it was very difficult for him as you can’t show how good you are. There were big doubts about his quality and he only got a chance for one or two games at a time.”

Wenger, nevertheless, left himself a get-out clause in case Thierry Henry is injured or Wiltord and Bergkamp suffer setbacks in the next fortnight.

“There are circumstances in which we would have no choice.

“If Bergkamp or Wiltord were long-term injuries, of course we would have to sign someone,” he admitted.

“But I refuse to do anything if nothing major happens.

“I won’t buy a short-term solution unless I’m under pressure to do so,” he said.

“I have set a time limit. I can wait until next Tuesday, when I will give some youngsters a chance in the Carling Cup, and wait to see how they do.

“Frankly, look at the European transfer market. What has happened? Nothing. There has been no market and that’s the most dangerous time to buy players because, if you buy a player, you should theoretically be able to sell him the next day.

“You can’t do that as the football market is dead and there are more clubs in danger of going into administration than those looking to buy players.”

“Why don’t Fulham release Louis Saha? They just let the price go up and up until they finally open the door.”

The Arsenal boss, who also has no interest in loan deals, still insists that his lack of transfer activity will not disadvantage his side’s title chances.

“We have shown that we can do well with the players that we have and I was encouraged by the performance of Jeremie Aliadiere against Middlesbrough last weekend,” he added.

“That tells me even more that we can compete.”

The danger is that if United or Chelsea invest in another top-class striker, Arsenal could be left at a disadvantage.