Gunners old boy Overmars is in line for a return

AJAX director of football Marc Overmars is the front runner to take over the same role at Arsenal.

Overmars, who played for Arsenal between 1997 and 2000, has a transfer record at Ajax that is exactly what the Gunners need to tap into if they are to rebuild the squad and challenge again for the Premier League title.

In recent years Overmars has signed Frenkie de Jong from Willem II for £900,000, selling him to Barcelona for £66million; Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for £2.52m, selling him to Napoli 2016 for £28.8m, and Davinson Sanchez from Atletico Nacional in 2016 for £4m, selling him to Tottenham for £25m in 2016.

Head of football at Arsenal Raul Sanllehi, who is leading the search, will also sound out candidates in Spain, with Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan, expected to speak with them.

Former Arsenal player Edu had been under consideration but it seems that he has committed himself to the Brazilian FA.