Wenger: Suarez key in transfer plans

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger conceded his bid to
sign Suarez from Liverpool was doomed to fail
earlier this week, but has now admitted his hopes of
landing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema may
depend on his former target securing a move to the
Bernabeu.
When asked whether he felt Suarez moving to Real
Madrid was crucial to his hopes of landing the
France international, a guarded Wenger offer this
response: “That's part of the fact you need three
agreements for anybody,” he stated.
“It’s true that it is sometimes connected with other
clubs, but we have to accept that.”
However, if Madrid do lure Suarez to the Spanish
capital, it would be another blow against Wenger’s
ability to court a highly-rated player into a fruitful
relationship with the club.
“That can happen (a players joins another club).
You've certainly tried to go out with a girl but find
she has chosen someone else. You don't commit
suicide,” he said.
“I don't want to speak in detail about what has
happened. One day, why not?
“But now it's not the moment to talk about that. I
just said it's over. We have to get on with our lives.”
Meanwhile, Wenger claimed he has a queue of
players lining up to sign for the club, as he looks to
make good on his promises to spend big in the final
week of the transfer window.
Wenger stated he has been frustrated by his failure
to land a host of top targets this summer, yet he
insists the desire of some of the game’s leading
lights to join the Gunners burns brighter than ever.
However, the Frenchman reigned in the temptation
to solely spend big on a marquee player.
“I can understand the interest in these types of
signings, but it's five per cent of the game,” he said.
“For 95 per cent of the time it's something more -
the spirit inside the club, the values of the club. But
today you feel that it is only about that (big
signings).
“I'm not against splashing out, but football is not
only about that.
“(But) many players want to join us and all the
players who have been here want to come back
here. It’s not because they like my face.
“They want to come here because of the way we
treat people and for the football we play, or try to
play. Unfortunately we’ve not always managed to
do it, but they find something here they want to
know again.
“So when they go somewhere else and many,
many, many players, believe me, ask me to come
back. They all want to come back. I don’t know if it
is Arsenal or England, but there is something about
it.”
Jens Lehmann, Sol Campbell and Thierry Henry have
all enjoyed second spells at Arsenal after initial
glories under Wenger’s command and now it seems
as if Mathieu Flamini will be the next to indulge in a
Gunners comeback as he edges closer to securing a
deal with the north London club.
Flamini left in less than harmonious circumstances
back in 2008, but Wenger seems open to the
prospect of him re-signing for the club in the coming
days after watching him train with his first team
squad.
“He works very hard, he has always been a very
dedicated player. He has the required (fitness) level.
He doesn’t come from a small club. He has played
here, and in Milan, and in Marseille.”
“Does he (Flamini) regret leaving? You should ask
him this question, it would be better. I didn’t ask him
that. Would he be ready to come back here?
Certainly, yes.”
Information from the Press Association was used in
this report.