Paul Pogba's £100m transfer to Manchester United is 'completely crazy', says Arsene Wenger

Arsenal will buy a new centre back this summer, reveals Arsene Wenger
Manager's hand has been forced by the injury to Per Mertesacker
But Wenger said he is still wary of spending huge sums on one player
Frenchman said Paul Pogba's fee is hard to justify

Arsene Wenger has admitted long-term injury to Per Mertesacker has forced Arsenal to enter the transfer market for an experienced centre back but suggested he would not pay over the odds by calling Paul Pogba's £100million move to Manchester United 'completely crazy'.

Wenger, once again under pressure from supporters frustrated at a lack of transfer action to match the likes of United, Manchester City and Liverpool, was in defiant mood in Los Angeles.

'I buy players that I think can strengthen our team,' said Wenger. 'Today we have to be very strong not just to buy to buy. There is always a wave of opinions. People are better informed today, they know all the players, they tell you always: "You should buy". When you ask who they become much shorter.'


Paul Pogba, pictured at Universal Studios on Saturday

Arsene Wenger has given his verdict on the transfer of Pogba


Wenger speaks with Hector Bellerin (left) as his squad trains at the Stubhub Center on Saturday
ARSENAL'S RECORD TRANSFERS

Mesut Ozil - £40m from Real Madrid, 2013

Alexis Sanchez - £35m from Barcelona, 2014

Granit Xhaka - £30m from Borussia Monchengladbach, 2016

Commenting on Pogba's mega-money move to Old Trafford, Wenger said: 'It is completely crazy if you cannot afford to pay it. If you can afford to pay it you can justify it.

'It is completely crazy if you compare it to normal life. That is for sure. But we live in a world where every activity that is worldwide makes a lot of money.

'Football has become a worldwide competition and that is why clubs can afford to do it. Does it make sense in the way the player can give you that investment back? Nobody ever could calculate.

'Since I am in this sport I always thought the record cannot go higher and I was always wrong. Maybe in a few years it will be 200, 300, who knows?'


The Frenchman initially seemed reluctant to sign a defender when Mertesacker suffered his knee problem last week but confirmation the 31-year-old, described by Wenger as a 'dressing-room heavyweight', will be out until 2017 has changed his thinking.

Arsenal have been linked to Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, the 24-year-old German international, who has a £42.1m release clause, while Chelsea target Kalidou Koulibaly, the Napoli player, may be another option.

Wenger said 'I do' when asked if he expected to sign a centre back before the start of the season and added: 'We are still in the market for players, at the front and back. Unfortunately we are not alone.

'Certainly I don't count that Per will be back before the end of the year. I will miss him deeply. He is a leader on the pitch and off. We lose a heavyweight in our dressing room.'

Gedion Zelalem (left) attempts to block a pass from Granit Xhaka as they train in LA

Defenders Calum Chambers and Rob Holding (right), a summer signing from Bolton, get ready

Goalkeeper Petr Cech leaps to his right to make a flying save at the Stubhub Center

(Left-right) Zelalem, Mathieu Debuchy, Joel Campbell and Alex Iwobi get down to business

Wenger watches proceedings as his squad prepare for the new season in the Californian sun

Mohamed Elneny cracks a smile

Theo Walcott works with a resistance band

Wenger also defended chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who has come in for criticism from supporters eager for Arsenal to spend more money.

The Arsenal manager said: 'I work every day with Ivan, believe me he is highly motivated to bring players in. Sometimes I have to calm him down. I believe as well this is a period where everybody wants to dream, and transfers bring dreams.

'But we live in a realistic world and part of our job is as well to rate the players we have inside the club. One of the values of our club is to give chances to players who deserve it.'

Wenger declined to comment on a potential second bid for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette or a move for Leicester's Riyad Mahrez but he vowed to try to bring the title back to the club in what could be his last season.

Per Mertesacker's injury will force Wenger into splashing out in the transfer market

'We had 18 teams behind us last year, we want to make sure we get 19 behind us next season,' he said. 'It's always been difficult, look at my hair and my wrinkles. I think I enjoy it because I am a competitor, I like to improve and move forward, it is a great challenge.

'I believe a big club is first about identity, values, despite all the money we talk about, and to make these values win. We focus on being faithful to our game. I am a long time at the club because I share the identity of the club.

'I want, in my final year of contract, not necessarily final year at Arsenal, to make sure these qualities come out in the club again and that we can win.'