REPORT: ARSENAL SCOUT IN LINE FOR SPORTING DIRECTOR ROLE?
According to James Olley in the Evening Standard, Arsenal will attempt to kill two birds with one stone by making an internal appointment to a mooted sporting director position that ensures one of the club’s most esteemed members of staff stays at the Emirates.
Spaniard Francis Cagigao, the Gunners head of international recruitment, is considered as a serious candidate to move up the ladder in any structural reshuffle as the board work on a long-term plan for life after Arsene Wenger.
It’s claimed that a sporting director could be hired even if the Frenchman signs a new deal with Marc Overmars also touted in some quarters for the role.
Cagigao, who has been working with Wenger for nearly 20 years and is under contract at Arsenal until 2020, is credited with recommending the signings of Cesc Fabregas, Jose Antonio Reyes, Manuel Almunia (*cough*), Lauren, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez.
During Rafa Benitez’s tenure, he was linked with a move to Real Madrid while his knowledge and experience are also believed to have turned the heads of clubs in England, Germany and South America.
Having teased the media with an imminent announcement about his future it now appears that Wenger’s future won’t be decided until the end of the season.
To add to the confusion there’s a lot of speculation about what might happen with stories spinning out of the club about transfer warchests, player contract negotiations and internal friction with CEO Ivan Gazidis doing the rounds.
Change is being demanded, however, what form that change takes remains to be seen. If there’s to be any at all.
Source: http://news.arseblog.com/2017/04/report ... ctor-role/
Exclusive: Ajax start sporting director search amid 'serious' Arsenal interest in Overmars
Football.London understands the Dutch giants believe they could lose Overmars to the Gunners
Ajax fear Marc Overmars will join Arsenal and are already looking for possible replacements.
Football.London understands that the Dutch giants consider Arsenal’s interest in their director of football as ‘serious’ and are putting plans in place for his departure.
The Gunners are looking to appoint a new sporting director as part of a shake-up of the club’s technical staff behind the scenes.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis is pushing for the changes - which also include an overhaul of the club’s scouting network - and the appointment of a new academy manager.
Gazidis also wants some new coaching staff brought in to work alongside manager Arsene Wenger, should he extend his two decade long stay at the Emirates beyond the end of this season.
But it’s the appointment of a new sporting director which will be the biggest change, with Wenger having always steered away from working alongside someone in the role.
And Overmars has emerged as the leading candidate, having done the job successfully at Ajax since moving from Go Ahead Eagles in 2012.
The former Dutch international winger spent three years as a player at Arsenal between 1997 and 2000 - playing a major part in the 1997/98 double success, scoring 16 goals.
He left in 2000 to join Barcelona in a £32 million joint deal with Emmanuel Petit.
Source: http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/t ... r-12888266
