Arsenal are making plans to appoint a new sporting director to succeed Edu Gaspar next month.
Edu, 46, stepped down in November after a five-year tenure with the Gunners. He was initially appointed as the club’s first technical director in 2019 before being promoted to sporting director in 2022.
The Brazilian executive is anticipated to join Evangelos Marinakis’ new group at Nottingham Forest, which also encompasses Olympiacos, winners of the Conference League, and Rio Ave.
According to The Athletic, the North London club is actively searching for Edu’s replacement and is narrowing down potential candidates before making a final decision.
Dan Ashworth, Andrea Berta, Roberto Olabe, and Thiago Scuro are among the individuals who have been discussed internally.
Arsenal’s interim sporting director, Jason Ayto, who was promoted following Edu’s departure, is also under consideration.
Luis Campos, strategic advisor at Paris Saint-Germain, was also mentioned as a possibility but is not currently being considered.
KSE, the owners of the Premier League club, are deeply involved in the process, and their approval will be necessary before any final decision is reached.
Ashworth has been without a club since his unexpected exit from Manchester United in December, after only five months in the role, despite Manchester United paying Newcastle £3 million for his services.
The former Man Utd executive achieved significant success at Brighton, transforming them into a competitive Premier League team, and at Newcastle, where he facilitated the signings of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Ayto has dedicated a decade to Arsenal, serving as Edu’s assistant for two years.
He played a key role in negotiations that led to the signings of Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori last summer.
Berta is a key figure who contributed to Atletico Madrid’s rise as LaLiga and Champions League contenders during his impressive 12-year tenure with manager Diego Simeone, until his departure last month.
The Italian oversaw the signings of players like Antoine Griezmann, Jan Oblak, and Rodri. He recently spent time in London to improve his English, indicating his interest in securing a position in the Premier League.
Olabe is expected to resign from his position as sporting director at Real Sociedad this summer.
During his seven years at Sociedad, the Spaniard was responsible for bringing in players such as Merino, Isak, Martin Odegaard, and David Silva. He also negotiated deals with Arsenal involving Kieran Tierney and Nacho Monreal.
Scuro joined Monaco in 2023 and was promoted to CEO after helping the club achieve a second-place finish last season, their highest since 2018.
