Arsenal

Arsenal 'put off by Luis Enrique demands'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 30 April 2018

Arsenal could reportedly pull out of talks with former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique after being put off by the Spaniard's demands for £200m to spend on new signings.

Arsenal are reportedly considering ending their pursuit of Luis Enrique due to the former Barcelona manager's transfer demands.

Enrique is believed to be close to the top of Arsenal's list of targets to replace long-serving manager Arsene Wenger, who will step down from his role after 22 years at the helm at the end of this season.

However, the Spaniard is understood to have demanded a £200m budget for transfers this summer, which the Gunners are hesitant to meet.

The Mirror reports that Enrique is planning a major overhaul of the Arsenal squad, with only strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang safe from the chop.

The Gunners are on course for their lowest finish since 1994-95 and are already guaranteed to end the season with their worst-ever points tally under Wenger following Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Enrique is hopeful of reestablishing Arsenal as title contenders on a regular basis, but has told the board that major surgery will be required to achieve that.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti have also been linked with the post, but Celtic's Brendan Rodgers has now ruled himself out of the running.