Arsène Wenger relaxes his 'over-30s rule' to sign Sébastien Squillaci

Arsène Wenger has admitted he is now willing to relax his "over-30s rule" by signing older players on longer deals, having previously only offered them one-year contracts. The Arsenal manager also indicated that no players moving on from the club would be sold to Premier League rivals.

When he was hoping to keep the 33-year-old William Gallas at Arsenal this summer, Wenger confirmed his usual policy was to offer a 12-month contract. "Yes, unfortunately that is the rule here," he said. But having completed the €4m (£3.3m) signing of the 30-year-old Sébastien Squillaci on a three-year contract from Sevilla the Frenchman clarified his policy, saying it can depend on a player's position.

Wenger said: "It's not over 30, it's over 32. So when you have a player [who is] 32 he will just get a one-year contract. It depends on the positions as well. If a central defender, then no problem to sign them until 34. But a striker is different. After 32 you go from year to year. A midfielder as well, after 32 you go from year-to-year."

Squillaci is only the fourth player aged 30 or more that Wenger has signed for a fee in his 14 years at Arsenal. The Frenchman, though, is clear that Squillaci should be ideally suited to the Premier League. "We needed a centre-back of quality and experience if possible and at the right price – he was all of that," he said. "He is a real defender and is good in the one-against-one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well. I believe he will be suited to the English game. He will train with us tomorrow morning, but will not be involved on Saturday [against Blackburn Rovers]."

The Arsenal manager avoided discussing whether Mark Schwarzer, the Fulham goalkeeper, would be joining after the west London club last week rejected an unimproved offer of £2m from Arsenal. "We have four great keepers and it's important that we have confidence in our goalkeepers to play the next game," he said.

Wenger, who appears to have lost confidence in Manuel Almunia, ruled out a move for Amir Begovic, the Stoke City gaolkeeper wanted by Chelsea. "No, I have never been interested in him," he said.

Wenger also claimed that any players leaving the club in the transfer window would have to move overseas. "No players will be going out domestically. Some could leave and go abroad, for example in Spain and Italy where the season hasn't started yet," he said. "But once the season has started it is important that there is no movement."

Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 26 Aug 10