Wenger promised cash for new signings

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been promised part of a £30m summer windfall to spend on new players.

Spending on the Gunners' new stadium, which is set to be completed in the summer of 2006, had been expected to hamper their transfer activity.

While they made a club record purchase of Jose Reyes in January 2004, they have since spent just over £5m on Manuel Almunia, Robin van Persie, Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Eboue.

However, Wenger has been assured of a sizeable transfer kitty to strengthen his squad from investors and media partners Granada, with the Frenchman having promised only last weekend to look for "star" signings.

The new share deal with Granada, which was triggered by 12 months elapsing since the agreement of planning permission and financing for the new stadium, has ensured the extra cash investment.