Arsene Wenger will seek a move to a club best equipped to win the Champions League should he leave Arsenal at the end of the season, according to the London Evening Standard.
The 67-year-old is thought to have turned down a huge £30million-a-year offer from an unnamed club in China following his suggestion he will remain in management next season “whether it is here or somewhere else”.
Wenger is undecided over whether he will bring his 21-year stay in north London to an end with the club’s performance over the final months of the season and fan sentiment towards him the pivotal factors.
Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke wants Wenger to remain at the helm and a two-year contract offer — which includes a small pay increase — remains on the table.
Wenger has never won the Champions League during his illustrious career and it is understood any move would be motivated by breaking that duck rather than the possibility of a lucrative pay day. The offer from China would have more than trebled his £8m-a-year salary at Emirates Stadium.
He continues to enjoy a close friendship with Paris St Germain’s Qatari owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi, having helped advise him on the takeover of the club in 2011.
PSG manager Umai Emery was only appointed last summer and although they secured a hugely impressive 4-0 win over Barcelona in their Champions League, last-16 first-leg clash, his team sit second in Ligue 1 and Wenger’s availability would be of great interest to Al-Khelaifi. Wenger is believed to have turned down approaches from Real Madrid in the past but Zinedine Zidane has thrived in his time at the Bernabeu and they lead La Liga.
The Frenchman would prefer to bring Europe’s premier prize back to Arsenal having transformed the club during his time in charge but he is facing mounting pressure from sections of the fanbase, particularly after the 5-1 loss away to Bayern Munich a fortnight ago.
Another protest is planned against him for next week’s second leg of the Champions League tie with fans urged to gather at the East Stand of the old stadium prior to the game to march in opposition to Wenger remaining at the club next term.
Mark Halfpenny of Online Gooner said: “Arsenal fans intend to hold a peaceful, respectful march and protest, to insist that Arsene Wenger does not sign a new contract and that he leaves at the end of this season.
“It has become a standing joke in football, that any of Wenger’s teams will look good for a while before collapsing like a wet cardboard box as soon as they are put under pressure. Once again this season, spring arrives and for the umpteenth time, we sit in fourth place (don’t we always?) and we have had to endure what has become an annual humbling at the hands of a top European team.”
The march has not been organised with the same cross-supporters’ group backing as a protest against Wenger during a Premier League game against Norwich in April, although the impact that day was diluted by the majority of fans singing the manager’s name in support.
COMMENTS