Arsène Wenger loves a bargain so much that he is willing to wait until the transfer window is about to shut before he signs a replacement for Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva.

The Arsenal manager has drawn up a shortlist of midfield players, including Gokhan Inler, Michael Johnson, Yaya Touré, Gareth Barry and Xabi Alonso, who could play alongside Cesc Fàbregas this season, but he is in no hurry to tie up a deal, even though he discovered last week that Abou Diaby will be out for a month with a thigh injury. “We are trying to find the right player,” Wenger said. “My target is always to spend the right money on the right player, therefore the timing of your buy is important.”

Inler caught Wenger’s eye at Euro 2008 while playing for Switzerland and the Udinese midfield player’s agent has said that Arsenal have expressed an interest in the 24-year-old. “I do not yet know if it will be the Swiss or someone else,” Wenger said. Inler would cost £8 million, significantly less than Touré, who would jump at the chance of leaving Barcelo-na to join his older brother, Kolo, at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger has also been linked with Johnson, the England Under21 midfield player, who is refusing to sign a new five-year contract at Manchester City, and Barry, who has been on the verge of joining Liverpool since the end of last season. Alonso is another possibility, but Liverpool are asking for £18 million, a price Wenger is not willing to pay.

Despite the urgent need for midfield reinforcements, Wenger’s most pressing concern is the Champions League third qualifying round tie away to FC Twente on Wednesday. Denilson and Fàbregas are set to start in midfield against Steve McClaren’s team in Arnhem and the pair gelled well against Ajax in a preseason friendly in Amsterdam on Friday.

Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Marco van Basten’s team and their 1-1 draw with Seville on Saturday ensured that they retained the LG Amsterdam Tournament title. Fàbregas returned to competitive action for the first time since Spain’s success at Euro 2008 and Wenger said: “I believe Cesc will be ready for Wednesday. He has worked very hard since he came back.” Samir Nasri, the midfield player signed for £12.8 million from Marseilles, has knee and thigh injuries which may prevent him from playing against Twente.