Sports

Arsenal’s talks with Mikel Arteta reach advanced stage, may take charge before next EPL game

Michael Orodare
By Michael Orodare
3 Min Read
Guardiola Arteta

Arsenal’s talks with Manchester City assistant manager, Mikel Arteta, are at an advanced stage as the Gunners work to install the Spaniard as their new head coach, Sky Sports reports.

Arteta is reportedly still weighing up a final decision on his future despite more than 24 hours of discussions, including at his Manchester home where Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and lawyer Huss Fahmy were pictured leaving after 1am on Monday.

Arteta has a strong emotional pull to former club Arsenal but is also said to be conscious of the strength of his relationship with Pep Guardiola and the potential opportunity to eventually become his successor at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday Arteta is in talks with Arsenal over their managerial vacancy and stated a few weeks ago he would not stand in his assistant’s way if he wanted to take a job as a number one.

Talks between Arsenal and Manchester City are ongoing and progressing well, although the Etihad hierarchy are known to be frustrated by a lack of communication from their Gunners counterparts over the past days.

Negotiations are further complicated by the unusual structure within the Gunners hierarchy, with owner Stan Kroenke and son Josh still to be convinced after getting through interviews with Venkatesham, Fahmy, head of football Raul Sanllehi and managing director Edu.

Edu is understood to be keen on hiring former team-mate and club legend Patrick Vieira, who is currently the manager of Nice in France.

READ ALSO: Twitter users slam EFCC for celebrating man who hawks water in corporate wears

Arsenal want a head coach rather than a manager, which also may have led them to Arteta over Carlo Ancelotti – who appears poised to join Everton this week – and Arteta has become recognised as one of the best coaches in the Premier League since his retirement in 2016, developing novel and creative ways of working with the Manchester City players.

Arsenal hope to have Arteta in charge of the side on Saturday for their game at Everton, who are very close to appointing Ancelotti on a four-and-a-half-year deal, according to Sky in Italy.

 

TAGGED:
Share This Article

RELATED NEWS