Arsenal “have to find some money from somewhere”, says Nigel Winterburn, as becoming a “self-funding club” is not a recipe for success.
A frugal approach to recruitment has been favoured at Emirates Stadium for some time.
Arsene Wenger was happy to play by those rules during his 22-year tenure and faced regular rounds of criticism for relaxing that stance all too infrequently.
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His successor, Unai Emery, has been placed into a similar position somewhat against his will.
The Spaniard has been made aware that only loan moves can be made in the January transfer window, at a point in the season when big-spending rivals are prepared to invest again if required.