Arsene Wenger believes that “FFP must become more flexible and facilitate investment” as Newcastle near their takeover.
The Magpies continue to wait for their protracted £300m takeover to be ratified by the Premier League.
PCP Capital Partners have paid a non-refundable deposit to Mike Ashley and have handed in the necessary paperwork, and must now wait for it to be approved despite growing opposition.
Wenger feels that “emerging clubs”, as Newcastle would be with added investment, should be permitted to spend and challenge the established European elite.
“I am in favour of measures that reinforce checks around club management, over measures that restrict and limit,” he told L’Equipe.
“We should value quality management and encourage it.
The first and biggest signings after a Premier League takeover
“I am in favour of opening things up to more investment, which FFP does not allow for. The clubs that dominate Europe today are those that were built and made investments during an era where FFP did not exist. FFP prevents emerging clubs who want to invest from doing so.
“That is not normal.
“These rules have fixed a hierarchy, the big historical clubs are bigger and bigger and, obviously, they are all fighting for FFP rules to be scrupulously applied to the others so that competitors can’t come through.
“Controlling club management rigorously, yes, verifying where funds are coming from, yes, but we need to encourage people to invest in football. FFP must become more flexible and facilitate investment.
“We must control clubs in their way of doing things but not tell them how to do it. If the club believes that it is not taking any risks with its balance by buying a player for €150 million, what is the problem?”
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