Wenger slams transfer window

Arsene Wenger claimed today that the new transfer window system will lead to a rash of "panic buys".

Arsenal's manager is not happy that clubs now have to sign players by 31 August and the next chance is a window in January.

He said: "English football has always lived well with the open market until the deadline in March.

"We go into the final sprint with the teams set. I'm against the transfer window because it just pushes people into making rush buys on the hurry up. You have to buy them before the end of August. It makes no sense. It has been brought in to keep some kind of alignment with Europe, but you have to keep the individuality of every country.

"One of the things that makes football interesting in England is you can buy at any moment. Now you can't. What is the expression? Act in haste and repent at leisure.

"When some teams have had a bad start, they have been saved because they have made some buys during the season. Now there will be more panic buys in January."

Wenger has made a total outlay of just £3million by signing French defender Pascal Cygan and Brazil's World Cup winner Gilberto Silva and selling goalkeeper Richard Wright to Everton.

However, he believes the new players are coming into the best atmosphere of his time at the club.

He added: "Yes, it is a happy dressing room, but more important to me is it's a hungry dressing room. I can assure you we're not complacent."

Meanwhile, Birmingham's record signing Clinton Morrison is poised to make his debut after his £4m-plus switch from Crystal Palace.

Morrison has shaken off a groin problem, but admits he is not match fit after just 20 minutes of preseason action. Steve Bruce's other summer captures - Kenny Cunningham, Aliou Cisse and Jovan Kirovski - are also in the squad.

But Robbie Savage is suspended after collecting 15 bookings with Leicester before his summer move.