ARSENAL’S transfer plans this summer could be set for a big blow with the club’s owner Stan Kroenke in need of a £408million loan.
The 72-year-old, who also owns NFL side Los Angeles Rams, has requested the huge figure to help finance their new SoFi Stadium.
This loan comes in addition to the £327.7m they have already borrowed from the league’s stadium lending programme, states The Athletic.
Kroenke has asked for 30 years, double the usual 15, to be able to pay the money back, which suggests finances could be a problem for him and the Rams.
The request will be discussed and given the thumbs up or down at next week’s virtual owners meeting.
And that, of course, could have a major impact on Mikel Arteta’s hopes of splashing the cash to try and bolster his Arsenal squad.
The Gunners’ already limited budget was further hit following the coronavirus pandemic meaning the club may have to sacrifice at least one of four players including Alexandre Lacazette – to splash in the summer.
And Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks almost certain to leave as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract and talks on an extension at a stalemate.
The 38-year-old Arteta’s transfer plans have been changing daily but one thing he is certain about is that he will only recruit players who have a burning desire to represent the club badge.
In an interview with Ian Wright on Adidas UK’s Twitter account, he said: “Everybody wants to come here and we have a really clear idea of what we are.
“It doesn’t need much convincing and if they do, for me it’s not a good starting point.
“If I have to convince a player to stay or to join us. To Arsenal? It holds me back a little bit.
“It has to be ‘what do we have to do? I want to play for that club and represent exactly the values the style of play that I want’. That’s the kind of emotion I want to hear at the start.
“The same with the players that are here. Once you finish what are the feelings you have towards the club? That’s what really interests me.”
But his dealings could be hindered by The SoFi Stadium, which plans to open in July, and its struggle to make the impact it was supposed to.
The cost has overrun and ticket sales for upcoming planned events have been slower than expected.
The stadium, which is to be shared by both The Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, was priced at £1.8bn when owners approved the Inglewood proposal in January 2016.
