Arsene Wenger does not expect much transfer business to be completed until after this summer's World Cup.
As the 2013/14 season draws to a close, speculation over comings and goings will intensify. But with a major tournament on the horizon, Wenger is predicting a quiet opening to the transfer market.
"Honestly, in my experience in a World Cup year, it [business] has never been done early," he said.
"We have to continue to develop as a team. We have bridged a big gap and we want to be better next season"
"Everybody is focused on the World Cup. At the moment you can do nothing because the season is not over. We are today, the 8th of May. The 12th of June is the first World Cup game.
"The Champions League final is on the 24th of May and basically two weeks later it is the start of the World Cup. It is unbelievable. There is no time between the end of the season and the start of the World Cup. Nobody will do anything before the World Cup starts."
Arsenal finished 16 points off the top of the Premier League in 2012/13 and that gap has closed to seven points this year - with one fixture remaining. Wenger believes his team can improve again next season.
"Seven points is… two games but, on the other hand, every team in the top four will be frustrated because you will think ‘Ah, we could have got this point and if we had done it, we would win the league.’ If you look at Chelsea or Liverpool, they will say the same.
"We have to continue to develop as a team. We have bridged a big gap and we want to be better next season. How can we do that? We have hard work in the summer to achieve that."
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