Arsenal weigh up Suker amid hopes to abandon Highbury

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger wants the club to move from its Highbury ground to expand capacity.

The English champions used Wembley for their unsuccessful Champions League campaign and are currently considering purchasing a site in Greenwich to build a completely new stadium. The land in South East London would cost the club £10 million to buy and the progress of the club could be restricted as all revenue is diverted to the building of a massive new ground of at least 50,000 capacity - some estimates say the club are aiming for a 70,000 seat ground.

Such a drain on revenue would restrict the club in the transfer market for several years. The club are already reluctant to break their wage structure for any player and Wenger fears they could fall behind as the aging team needs investment over the next three years. The doubts about the ground - local residents are fighting an action to stop the club building again at Highbury - could remove Arsenal from any large bids for European talent.

The club did not want to spend large sums on Patrick Kluivert and the de Boer brothers after the last World Cup and their move for Inter's unwanted Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu has floundered in a row over a bonus payment the player claims Inter owe to him.

The Kanu transfer is close to revival as the Italians are keen to sell. Kanu is not wanted by incoming coach Marcello Lippi for next season and the player is nearing a compromise on his financial demands which could clear the way for his move to Arsenal.

Arsenal are also interested in Davor Suker - who continues to languish in Real Madrid reserves despite being named as one of the three contenders for the latest player of the year title. Suker has now had enough of life as a Real second stringer and would reduce his wage demands if he could secure the first team football that Arsenal could guarantee for him this season.