London: Arsenal are continuing to explore a range of younger head coach options to replace Arsene Wenger and do not simply want to be drawn into paying huge wages for one of the highest-profile candidates.
With the structure surrounding the manager having already evolved and a transfer budget before sales this summer of around pounds 50 million (Dh251.35 million), the priority is a manager with the coaching track-record to bring out the best in the squad while also progressing the younger players. Arsenal have not yet made any final decisions — and chief executive Ivan Gazidis is committed to a proper recruitment process — but Luis Enrique was reportedly earning pounds 16.5 million a year at Barcelona, almost double what Wenger is paid at the Emirates.
Enrique’s likely wage expectations have already put off Chelsea, and Arsenal are also considering other options. Former captains Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira, Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim, Juventus coach Max Allegri and Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann are also on Arsenal’s shortlist.
Zeljko Buvac, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool assistant, was yesterday reported in Bosnia to be under consideration by Arsenal, but he has not managed since 2001. He would be well known to Arsenal’s head of recruitment Sven Mislintat following their time together at Borussia Dortmund and is highly regarded for his work on the training ground.
Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal’s new head of football relations, worked closely with Enrique at Barcelona. Gazidis holds Arteta, who is Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, in high regard.
The new manager will not be all-powerful in the transfer market — as Wenger was — and his budget will have limitations following record spending over the past two years on both transfer fees and wages.
Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck are all out of contract next year and are expected to wait until the manager is appointed before making any final decision on extending their deals. Jack Wilshere is out of contract in June and has so far refused the offer of a new deal.
There will be other off-field changes, with fitness coach Tony Colbert, first-team coach Boro Primorac and goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton all expected to leave. Club captain Per Mertesacker will head up the club’s academy and current assistant manager Steve Bould may stay on.
