Arsene Wenger admits he would sell any of his Arsenal players to one of their rivals, amid claims Chelsea want Emmanuel Adebayor.

Wenger claims that Adebayor has been affected by criticism from the club's own fans this season, after a possible move to AC Milan failed to materialise last summer.

He insists he wants the Togo marksman to stay at Emirates Stadium, despite hinting that he could be ready to sell him.

"I don't want to go especially into any individual assessment of who we want to keep and who not, at the moment, and normally Adebayor is part of our plans for the future," he said.

"If I feel that a player should go, or could go, why not sell him to one of the other top four?"

"Yes, of course, it's unusual, but we sold [Ashley] Cole to Chelsea and we bought [William] Gallas [from Stamford Bridge] so you can never say I never do it because I've already done it."

He admits that the player has had to come through some issues, including his failed move.

"I believe he has been disturbed by bad feelings from the fans because he was close to leaving and it unsettled him a little bit," he continued.

"He had a big injury but in training he looks very, very sharp and is coming back to his best."

Wenger refused to go into details about what happened with Adebayor last summer.

"In this path, you are always in a very delicate position for two reasons," Wenger added.

"First, I cannot tell you all the truth, what happened behind the scenes and secondly, when you want to keep the players, you keep the players. You do not really look at how much money you get.

"On the other hand, people say you do not want to spend and when you have the good player, you sell him."

Meanwhile Wenger, who takes his side to title-chasing Manchester United on Saturday, admits he will do his best to add some fresh experience to the Arsenal squad this summer - but maintains it will not be at any cost.

Much has been made of Arsenal's inability to mount a serious title challenge this season, while Wenger's young side were also dumped out of the FA Cup by Chelsea at Wembley before being brushed aside by Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals.

There have been many calls - from fans and ex-players alike - for Wenger to spend heavily on experienced men this summer to add to the talent of youth.

The Arsenal manager was pressed on the issue once again during a shareholders forum at Emirates Stadium on Thursday night, echoing the calls of Russia-based billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the Gunners' second-highest stakeholder, who wants the club to "step up" their transfer dealings and has offered his help towards easing some of the debt burden.

However, Wenger - who has won three league titles and reached the Champions League final in 2006, but has not secured silverware now for four successive seasons - is adamant he will not "bust" the club just to satisfy demand for a big-name signing.

"I believe every manager has the same problem, to manage within his own resources," said Wenger, whose team are now secure in fourth place.

"I look now like I do not want to spend money, but I have nothing against spending money.

"I just feel we have a team who can be very competitive and we want, as always, to manage this club within its resources. I will do that.

"If you want me to get the club bust, I am not the person to do that, that is for sure."

Wenger added: "I believe in this team and from what I have seen in this team, that makes me quite optimistic.

"These players have the quality to beat anybody else.

"If we can add one or two players with the resources we have, then we will do it."