The Arsenal boss said he would be interested in making a bid for SWP but only if Chelsea fall out of the running.
The Manchester Evening News said today that Wenger's utterings were viewed with disdain at Sportcity, where the board and manager have repeatedly stressed they do not want to sell Wright-Phillips to anyone.
"I like him but we are in a market where you let Chelsea make decisions and then come in after," said Wenger.
"There is a price for Chelsea and a price for everybody else and that is why we have to wait until they decide."
Chelsea have yet to stop briefing London journalists about their desire to add Wright-Phillips to their all star cast list.
But as yet the only contact made with City chairman John Wardle or chief exec Alistair Mackintosh has been through an unofficial intermediary who whispered sums way short of what would give City something to think about.