Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has the spending power to lure Wayne Rooney away from Manchester United. Chief executive Ivan Gazidis said the Gunners CAN afford to pay Rooney more than £200,000 a week and Manchester United a £25million fee, says The Sun.

Gazidis was adamant only boss Wenger will decide whether to bid for the England striker.

But he claimed Arsenal are finally willing and able to make the stellar signings required for a genuine title challenge, smashing their rigid pay structure.

Asked directly if they could afford the England hitman and his wages, Gazidis said: "I don't know what his fee would be.

"I'm talking about an extra £70m of additional, high-margin revenue - so of course we could do that.

"We could do more than that."