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Arsenal sporting director search: PSG’s Luis Campos under consideration

Admin 4 days ago

14 3 minutes read

Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Campos is among the names Arsenal are considering to replace sporting director Edu.

PSG football consultant Campos, who has a reputation for finding young talent, has not yet extended his contract with the French champions, making him a strong target for Arsenal.

The Portuguese's contract with PSG expires this summer, but no agreement has yet been reached on a new contract.

Arsenal have started the search for a new sporting director following Edu's departure earlier this month, with Campos in the mix to succeed the Brazilian.

The search for Edu's replacement is reportedly in its early stages, with Arsenal determining exactly which profile of sporting director they want to hire.

Campos has overseen a change in policy at PSG, after moving from a big-money club that signed some of the world's biggest stars to signing young talent including Vitinha, Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves.

The former Monaco and Lille sporting director has signed youngsters who have been sold for big profits throughout his career, including Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and Anthony Martial.

But Campos is not the only name in the running to replace Edu.

It is understood that intermediaries have given Arsenal a host of names, including Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes and Roberto Olabe, who is set to resign from Real Sociedad this summer.

Arsenal held talks about future planning in LA this week

Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas:

The interest in Campos comes after Arsenal held future planning talks in Los Angeles this week following Edu's shock resignation.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has taken advantage of the international break to meet owners Stan and Josh Kroenke, as well as directors Tim Lewis and Richard Garlick, and assistant sporting director Jason Ayto, in the Californian city.

The meeting was mainly about planning for the coming summer and January, and was scheduled before Edu's departure. But high on the agenda are likely potential successors for the Brazilian after he joined the club of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Arsenal are in no rush to appoint anyone and will take their time to establish a future system for player recruitment and welfare, amid widespread speculation involving the likes of Tim Steidten at West Ham and Olabe.

The 57-year-old, who plans to leave Sociedad at the end of the season, has been linked with the role as he already knows fellow Spaniard Arteta and they are said to have a good understanding – but he could telling Sociedad of his plans before Edu informed Arsenal of his decision to resign.

Arsenal's next appointment, which could yet be the promotion of Edu's number two Ayto, won't be down to Arteta alone either. So the first part of the club's recruitment strategy is to establish the profile of sporting director the club wants, not just for the short term, but also for the long term.

Arsenal were surprised by Edu's decision but a high-performing recruitment structure remains in place now led by Ayto, including head of recruitment James Ellis.

Arsenal are positioning themselves for a reactive period in January in case of injuries or opportunities arising to bring forward the summer work.

Silva is interested in the Arsenal sporting director vacancy in the future

Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva says he would be interested in becoming Arsenal's sporting director in the future, but “not right now”.

The Brazilian, a Gunners Invincible, was previously technical director of Panathinaikos before leaving the role after just seven months.

Asked if Arsenal's sporting director would be a role he would one day like to fill, he told Sky Sports News: “I still do some work at the club as an ambassador. It wasn't something that was me.” [thinking of] in the following years, despite having done it for Panathinaikos in the past.

“In recent years I have taken a different path in football with Arsenal.

“I don't know. I did the preparation for that a few years ago. I was invited to a few clubs in Brazil, but I decided not to take the step towards the position, but let's see in the future.”

“I'm not saying that now, but as I'm involved with Arsenal it's always great to be involved in some way, even as an ambassador.”

Silva revealed he has spoken to his former teammate Edu about his surprise departure and believes his compatriot has done a “great job” for north London.

The 48-year-old said: “We exchanged a few messages but I didn't ask him why he made this decision.

“Edu is a very cool guy. It was a difficult decision for him to leave the club. I wish him the best of luck. He has done a great job for the club and the club will obviously miss him.”

“He has built a great partnership with Mikel so there is a good balance for Arsenal.

“I was honestly a bit surprised, but sometimes it happens and I hope he will be happy for his next challenge.”