CSL side Luneng deny interest in Arsenal coach Wenger

Jinan, May 1: Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shandong Luneng on Tuesday denied interest in signing Arsene Wenger as their head coach after he leaves the London football club Arsenal at the end of the season.

The 68-year-old Frenchman will say goodbye to Arsenal where he served as coach since 1996. Reports said Luneng will offer a coaching job to Wenger with an annual salary reportedly close to 28 million pounds, reports Xinhua news agency.

The club humourously denied the rumour on it's Weibo account. "It is surely a surprise to learn from netizens that Wenger will be the head coach of our club."

Former Chinese men's football international Li Xiaopeng took over as Luneng's head coach in December, replacing German Felix Magath.

The 42-year-old Li Xiaopeng, who spent his entire playing career in Luneng, was one of the key figures in China's only World Cup experience in 2002.

As a player, Li helped Luneng win one Chinese Jia-A League title, three CFA Cup titles and one CSL Cup title.