Former Arsenal target Tresor Mputu has opened up on the extent to which Arsene Wenger tried to save money.
The legendary Gunners boss was known for being frugal during his reign in north London, and was sometimes criticised for refusing to get his chequebook out.
Back in 2007 Arsenal were linked with DR Congo international Mputu.
It seems the Gunners were so keen on him they invited him to train with the squad for a whole two months, and then moved to close the deal.
Mputu was with TP Mazembe at the time, and the club president spoke to Arsenal to thrash out the finer details.
But Mputu claims Wenger didn't want to pay his asking price, resulting in the TP Mazembe president reluctantly pulling the plug.
Mputu said in an Instagram Live, as reported by Sport Witness: "I'd spent two months in London training with Arsenal alongside Adebayor and many others, and they rated me.
"Then, the president [of TP Mazembe], Moise Katumbi, came to discuss with the English club's board, and he went back immediately.
"I wasn't told what they had spoken about. It's only later that I learned Arsenal didn't try and pay much.
"Arsene Wenger called me, confirming this information, to tell me that if a player comes from Africa, you always buy him for less and then percentages make it up afterwards.
"The next day, Mazembe's accountant would tell me that the president said we needed to go back."
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