Arsene Wenger ready to spend big if Arsenal find right candidate

Arsene Wenger appeased supporters by making it clear that Arsenal are still very active in the transfer market despite a lack of activity in recent weeks. The Gunners' opponents have been strengthening their squads while the north London club have made just one addition to the first-team in Granit Xhaka.

The Swiss midfielder arrived early in the summer transfer window in a reported £35m deal ($45.8m) following which the French manager has added Takuma Asano from Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers, but both the players are unlikely to be prominent members of the first-team in the upcoming season.

Wenger indicated following the end of last season that signing a striker will be one of his main priorities as the lack of goals in the second-half of the season was the main reason for Arsenal's failed title challenge. The Emirates Stadium outfit have been linked with a number of forwards, which included a failed bid for Leicester City marksman Jamie Vardy.

Alexandre Lacazette, Alvaro Morata and more recently Gonzalo Higuain's name has been mentioned with a potential move to Arsenal. The Gunners will have to pay upwards of £40m to land the former two, while Napoli has made it clear that the Argentine striker can only be signed if interested clubs meet his €94m (£78.8m, $104m) release clause.

The French manager has revealed that Arsenal are willing to spend "big money" if they find the right candidate, which points to a possible move for a striker in the coming weeks. Wenger was reluctant when pushed to reveal targets, but confirmed that they are working hard in an inflated market, to find the right players to strengthen the team.

"I am sure that my chief executive didn't want to dampen the expectations on that front. We are very active. If we find the right candidates then we will spend the big money," Wenger said following Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Lens in their first pre-season friendly, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.

"We have already spent big, Until now, nobody has spent more on a transfer than we have in this country. Even if Pogba might fly from Italy to England today, I don't know... Overall we have made a big investment already but we are active."

"I wouldn't like to come out on names because if you don't get them afterwards, people ask why. We are active, very active every day and it's not over. Today we are on July 22 and the transfer market finishes on August 31. You know that a lot happens in the last week, so it's a long time to go, but we are active and we are working," he added.