The London club have already lost the services of star midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who turned down a new pay offer in the close season before moving to AC Milan on a free transfer.

"If I had the power to change anything basic in football, it would be the transfer system which makes mercenaries of players," the French boss was quoted by the News of the World as saying.

"If they are bad ones, they stay and, if they are good, they think only of leaving."

He added: "I have fought for them to earn a very good living, but I impose respect for their contract upon them."

Wenger's words come as the club are working hard to retain the services of Emmanuel Adebayor and Belarus star Alexander Hleb, both recently linked with big-money moves to Italy and Spain.