Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger 'has over £200m in the bank to spend' as Gunners ready Karim Benzema bid

'Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, he could have any player,' Lord Harris said

Arsenal director Lord Harris has claimed that the club have the financial power to buy any player in the world, except the “un-buyable” Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The club have been linked with a move for Ronaldo's Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema this morning. Lord Harris has confirmed that a centre forward is on manager Arsene Wenger's list of transfer targets.

"Money was tight when we moved to the Emirates but it's a lot freer now," Lord Harris told the Daily Mail.

"We could go into the market and probably buy any player in the world, apart from half a dozen who are unbuyable. In the accounts, there's over £200million in the bank. You could say to Arsene we've got no money and he wouldn't worry, or you could give him £100m and he might not spend it.

"We would back him to break the club's transfer record. If he wanted the man, he could have him. Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, he could have any player."

Lord Harris added that he has seen Wenger's transfer targets list, and cryptically says that only a "superstar" will replace the mystery man.

"We get a list of the players that Wenger wants," he said.

"On the list is a centre forward, but I'm not going to tell you who he is.

"You've got to get the other team to want to sell him, but I think he wants to come. It basically comes down to whether the other team can find a superstar to replace him, because they don't have to sell."