Arsenal can sign almost any player in the world... there is more than £200m in the bank but I'm glad Arsene Wenger didn't buy Raheem Sterling, says director Lord Harris

• Arsenal were restricted in the market when they moved into the Emirates 
• But the club now has £200million sitting in the bank ready to spend 
• Arsenal director Lord Harris says Arsene Wenger could buy any player
• The club made funds available to buy Petr Cech for £11m from Chelsea 
• Harris says he is pleased Wenger didn't buy Raheem Sterling
• Harris wants Wenger to stay beyond the end of his current contract

Arsenal director Lord Harris has backed Arsene Wenger to break the club transfer record on a new centre forward, with the long-serving board member revealing funds are available to sign 'anyone but Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi'.

Real Madrid star Karim Benzema is understood to be top of Wenger's wanted list and Lord Philip Harris, who closely monitors the north London side's finances, has told Sportsmail there is a healthy balance of more than £200million in the club's accounts.

The Carpetright owner, who left school aged 15 to become a salesman, admitted the development of the Emirates Stadium previously limited spending power but feels the Gunners are now in a position to cash in on their investment and challenge for major European titles.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has the transfer funds to buy almost any player in the world

The Frenchman has £200million in the Arsenal coffers that he can use to buy a new striker this summer

It is thought that Wenger is keen on bringing Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema to the Emirates

Harris does not think it will be possible for Tottenham to share Arsenal's ground during the development 

'Money was tight when we moved to the Emirates but it's a lot freer now,' said the 72-year-old. 'We could go into the market and probably buy any player in the world, apart from half a dozen who are un-buyable. In the accounts, there's over £200million in the bank. You could say to Arsene we've got no money and he wouldn't worry, or you could give him £100m and he might not spend it.

'At the moment there are no plans to sign anyone, unless he finds a real superstar like Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez. He's looking for one of those but there aren't many available. We would back him to break the club's transfer record. If he wanted the man, he could have him. Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, he could have any player. We will probably have to break the club record to get the man he wants.'