Chairman responds when asked if he still wants to buy Wembley amid rumours Arsenal could move

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Arsenal have been given an apparent boost as they weigh up moving to Wembley Stadium.

The club have discussed holding their home matches at the iconic ground while working to expand the Emirates, which could increase the capacity to over 70,000.

Wembley would certainly represent the most obvious solution, especially after Tottenham temporarily hosted games there during the construction of their new ground.

Proposals remain at an early stage, but Arsenal have now taken a step closer to getting the green light after a businessman previously interested in buying the venue confirmed he has no plans for a new offer.

Shahid Khan not interested in buying Wembley

Fulham owner Shahid Khan withdrew his bid in 2018 after being met with resistance.

Khan had offered £600million to take the stadium off the Football Association’s hands, although the governing body would have retained its Club Wembley hospitality rights, valued at £300m.

Then-FA chairman Martin Glenn said the move was “more divisive than expected”, and Khan this week provided an update, insisting he is unlikely to reignite his interest.

“Well, I think anything is possible, but you know, at this point, there hasn’t been any further talk on it,” Khan told talkSPORT.

“Who knows what the future holds. But at this point, it’s not something we’re actively pursuing.”

Arsenal would bank hundreds of millions from a Wembley move, TBR Football exclusively revealed. However, they may still encounter planning permission issues for an Emirates expansion.

Shahid Khan on previous Wembley offer

Reacting to the collapse of his Wembley proposal, Khan said he had wanted “to do right by everyone in a manner that strengthens the English game and brings people together, not divides them”.

He went on to add: “Unfortunately, given where we are today, I’ve concluded that the outcome of a vote next week would be far from sufficient in expressing the broad support favoured by the FA chairman to sell Wembley Stadium.

“Until a time when it is evident there is an unmistakable directive from the FA to explore and close a sale, I am respectfully withdrawing my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium.”

Khan also owns NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars, and had vowed to make Wembley the official annual host for the side, as well as other NFL fixtures.