Jardim ready to replace Wenger

MONACO manager Leonardo Jardim wants to take over at Arsenal next season if Arsene Wenger retires. The Portuguese coach is popular at the Emirates and was initially lined up to replace Wenger if he chose to step aside at the end of last season.

He has emerged as an option once again, though, following fresh speculation that Wenger could step down this summer with one year left on his contract.

Jardim is hugely admired at Arsenal for how he has turned Monaco into one of Europe’s best sides, winning Ligue 1 last season ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and reaching the Champions League semifinals, beating Tottenham and Manchester City along the way.

He did so playing attacking football and using mainly young players, and operating in an environment where Monaco’s best players were always up for sale.

This meant that Jardim was lined up last summer when it was still unclear whether Arsene Wenger would sign the new twoyear deal he was eventually offered.

After the end of the season, Wenger did indeed sign and so Jardim stayed at Monaco.

But this year, with Arsenal determined to review their managerial situation at the end of a disappointing season, Jardim’s name has emerged as a candidate again.

Jardim is in his fourth season at Monaco and is now understood to want a new challenge, and sees the rebuilding job at Arsenal as a perfect opportunity.

Monaco’s new technical director Michael Emenalo is working to persuade him to stay in the principality.

Of course there is no vacancy for the managerial job now, but if Wenger does finally stand aside then Jardim is the early favourite.