Arsenal are planning to appoint a new sporting director next month after sounding out five potential candidates for the position.
The permanent role has been vacant since Edu’s resignation in November which saw the club appoint Jason Ayto to fill in on an interim basis.
As first reported by The Athletic, Ayto remains in the mix for the position on a full-time basis, four other candidates have been identified.
One of them is former Newcastle and Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth while Andrea Berta, Roberto Olabe and Thiago Scuro are other names being considered.
Edu’s departure in November had been a huge shock and had helped Mikel Arteta build a Premier League title-chasing squad.
It soon emerged the Brazilian had reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, overseeing his group of clubs.
In a statement released by Arsenal, Edu said: “This was an incredibly hard decision to make.
“Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history. It has been a special journey and I thank Stan, Josh, Tim and Lord Harris for the support they’ve given me.
“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.”
The Gunners have taken several months before finalising who will be their next sporting director.
Ayto has been at Arsenal for more than a decade and became Edu’s right-hand man.
He led the club’s search for a striker in January that ultimately failed to land anyone.
Ashworth is a name that has been in the headlines following his disastrous stint at Manchester United.
He lasted just five months at Old Trafford having been signed from Newcastle.
Berta is Atletico Madrid’s former sporting director, having left the club after 12 years in January.
Olabe is currently at Real Sociedad and will step down from his sporting director job in the summer.
Scuro is the current Monaco CEO and like Edu is also Brazilian.
More to follow…
