THAT’S A LOTTI
Gunners have put amazing TEN names on their wish-list to be next boss with Vieira & Carlo favourites to take over
ARSENAL could interview as many as 10 candidates as they go through an exhaustive process before appointing a new manager.
Former captain Patrick Vieira is emerging as a serious contender despite a difficult season at Nice, but the club are likely to sound him out as they look to make an appointment.
They have begun interviews, with former Valencia boss Marcelino among the first to be spoken to. But another Spaniard who also managed Sevilla may not go down well with the fans because of similarities to Unai Emery.
Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta is also high on the hit-list, while
Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti could become available after a tough time in Italy.
Arsenal may have to wait until the summer if they want to get former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Ex-juventus boss
Max Allegri is unlikely to be a serious candidate as
Arsenal want someone who speaks good English. It is believed they have sounded out Bordeaux’s former Swansea boss Paulo
Sousa, while Belgium boss Roberto Martinez is also on their long list of people to talk to.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are hoping that Freddie Ljungberg is able to keep the seat warm until the end of the campaign, or at least for the next few weeks.
Head of football Raul Sanllehi, technical director Edu, managing director Vinai Venkatesham and contracts negotiator Huss Fahmy will head up the process.
They will take their choice to Arsenal director Josh
Kroenke, son of owner
Stan, for the green light.
T h e first steps will be to whittle down the names to a shortlist and it will mean speaking to a lot of candidates before naming their man.
Arteta was championed for the job in
2018 by former chief executive Ivan Gazidis, but that was blocked by the older members of the board who are still there and may feel it is still too much of a gamble – although they are confident he would come if asked.
Ancelotti, who led Chelsea to the Premier
League title in 2010, is seen as a safe pair of hands and knows English football, while Vieira is a club legend. But Vieira’s current club Nice have off-the-field problems and are struggling. Ljungberg is hoping to be a contender too but, despite the win at West Ham, appears to be an outside bet beyond this season.