What is Arsenal’s budget this season?

Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham has rubbished reports of Arsenal’s £40m budget on the brink of news of signing Pepe from Ligue 1.

“I don’t recognise this £40m figure,” Vinai Venkatesham said at a Q&A at the Emirates on Friday night when asked why the club only had £40m to spend.

“I have read it a lot. That doesn’t come from us, that doesn’t come from the club. The numbers never come from us. We never ever, ever, ever talk about how much money we have to spend because that’s the least helpful thing you can do. Raul’s job is hard enough, if you go into a negotiation and everyone knows how much money you’ve got, it doesn’t really help.

“It is true that our funds are more limited after three years in the Europa League, but the budget isn’t £40m. We have the budget to make a difference, but as Raul says, this is a particularly tough window and we’re in the middle of it. I sense and understand the frustration, but there is a huge amount of misinformation out there in the market.

“I read and am sent articles about players we’re supposed to have missed out on and they’re players we’ve never even talked about. I get why sometimes it’s hard for fans to understand what we’re doing, but I’d say that’s because about 85% of what you read just isn’t true.”

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