Arsenal chief not expecting ‘big spending transfer window’ from Gunners

Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi has recently hinted the Gunners are set for a quiet summer on the transfer front.

COVID-19 & Football

The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, caused major disruption around the world over the last several months.

At the time of writing, it has been reported that over 3.2m people around the world have tested positive for the virus with the death toll sadly just past the 230,000 mark.

And whilst it is obviously not as important as people’s lives, football has also been affected by the coronavirus.

One area that looks to be a major cause for concern is the financial impact of COVID-19.

The loss of both matchday ticket sales and TV revenue could have major ramifications for clubs around the world with Burnley claiming they could lose somewhere in the region of £50m if the season isn’t finished.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: A general view of the Nike Merlin matchball during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Watford FC at Old Trafford on February 23, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Arsenals set for quiet window?

Many clubs, such as Liverpool, also potentially look set to have their transfer plans affected due to the coronavirus.

Another high-profile Premier League side that looks set for a difficult summer on the transfer front is Arsenal.

Most of Arsenal’s first-team squad took a 12.5% pay-cut earlier this month to help deal with the financial troubles brought about by the coronavirus whilst Mikel Arteta stated he was planning for two or three different transfer scenarios, one of which involved the Gunners doing nothing.

And judging by recent comments from Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi, Arteta and the fans shouldn’t be expecting an awful lot of business to be conducted in the next window.

Speaking in a video call with all non-playing employees, Sanllehi stated that they do not predict a ‘big spending transfer window’ with the Spaniard also going as far as to claim that Arsenal’s available cash reserves heading into the summer could be wiped out:

“The reduction in income from playing BCD for the rest of the season will knock £23m from available cash at the end of the season as will the absence of season ticket renewals (£70m). The combined impact will leave little spare cash this summer, especially if sponsors withhold part of their advance payments for season 2020-21.

“Arsenal’s available cash reserves heading into the summer of 2020-21 could be wiped out and a new borrowing requirement of over £50m being required by the end of July if the club is to meet its commitments to pay other clubs instalments due on player transfers and finance wages in June and July. So we certainly don’t predict a big spending transfer window!”

Quotes via the Evening Standard.

See also: Best Netflix, Amazon & YouTube football documentaries & movies to watch during coronavirus isolation

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9 best football documentaries to watch on ESPN+ during COVID-19 quarantine

 

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