Arsenal lined up for Red Bull wings

EXCLUSIVE

Arsenal could be set for a massive cash injection which would put them back amongst football’s elite.

The Gunners have emerged as the club billionaire Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz wants to buy.

We revealed yesterday how the Austrian billionaire wants to buy a top Premier League outfit to take his brand into the Champions League, a market he has yet to exploit. We are told by city sources Arsenal is that club.

Red Bull already have top links in sport, most notably in Formula One. They also have MLS club New York Red Bulls and FC Red Bull Salzburg in Mateschitz’s home country of Austria.

Now he is ready to turn to the Gunners and make them potentially Red Bull Arsenal. How that would go down with traditionalists is open to debate. But with Mateschiltz worth over £7billion and being the 162nd richest person in the world, fans may sacrifice a slight name change for a huge cash injection to turn the club into the best in Europe.

Red Bull Salzburg sporting director Ralf Rangnick has been put in charge of the operation and tentative enquiries have already been made.

A city source said: “Red Bull want a Premier League club. They want one with a proven reputation in Europe and a brand that is known world wide. They don’t want to spend years developing a club. They want a club where they can come in, do a bit of tweaking and bring more success.

“Our understanding is the club they want is Arsenal. There was a lot of talk about an Asian consortium and that didn’t go anywhere. No doubt the club will insist they are not for sale. But a man like Mateschitz, if he wants something he usually gets it.”

Arsenal have for many seasons under Arsene Wenger been careful with their money. Wenger revealed yesterday he would like to spend big again after breaking the club’s record transfer fee to land Mesut Ozil. Since his arrival Arsenal have not lost a game and are currently on top of the league.

So the Frenchman would welcome any new cash investment and may even decide to sign a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.