Ex-Arsenal star chatted with possible next sporting director – ‘He’d be my choice'

An Arsenal confidant of Mikel Arteta is being tipped to take over from Edu as the club's new sporting director.

The Gunners have ramped up their search after Edu opted to seek a "different challenge". He is poised to join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis in a multi-club capacity after agreeing a deal in principle.

Marinakis, who also has stakes in Olympiacos and Rio Ave, is believed to be negotiating the acquisition of a majority share in Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama.

Edu's influential tenure has helped re-establish Arsenal as serious title challengers, making this next appointment crucial as the club aims to maintain its trajectory.

Ex-Gunners star Anders Limpar has suggested that former Arsenal hero Tomas Rosicky, who French outlet L'Equipe say is already in discussions with the north London side, is the ideal candidate for the role.

Rosicky, 44, an Arsenal veteran of 246 matches under Arsene Wenger and a former team-mate of Arteta, holds the sporting director position at Sparta Prague.

READ MORE:Arsenal handed Premier League title race boost chance that Mikel Arteta must not squander

READ MORE: Arsenal have already been sent transfer hint about next Martin Odegaard

Despite his current role, he remains connected to Arsenal, evidenced by his presence at Kevin Campbell's funeral where he conversed with Limpar, reports the Mirror. The Swede shared with BonusCodeBet.co.uk: "I sat down with him and had a chat with him. He's an intelligent guy. He's very calm. He knows his football."

Limpar, 59, discussed the possibility of an internal candidate in Per Mertesacker, who currently heads Arsenal's academy. The former Gunner, who played for the club from 1990 to 1994, said: "I met Per Mertesacker when I visited the training centre in September and I can't actually figure out what I think about him, because I don't know him. I just know that he is the head of the academy.

"In my book, both of them are great candidates but my choice would be Tomas. He's a very nice guy and his knowledge of football is amazing. Very clever guy and he speaks perfect English. He should be suitable for the Arsenal job."

Upon announcing his exit earlier this month, Edu stated: "I've loved working with so many great colleagues across our men's, women's and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.

"Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best."

Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.