BOOKIES GIVE MAS ALLEG UP

JUVENTUS manager Massimiliano Allegri is fast becoming a firm favourite to become the next Arsenal manager – if and when Arsene Wenger decides to step down.

Odds on the Italian, 49, arriving at The Emirates this summer have been slashed to 7/2.

Only Eddie Howe is a shorter price with the bookies – and his star has waned in recent weeks when the Bournemouth boss sent out an entirely changed side in the FA Cup at Millwall – and lost.

Allegri (above) was appointed Juve boss in 2014 and went close to winning an historic Treble in his first season, having to ‘settle’ for just a league and cup double.

And he arrived at The Old Lady having achieved the same success at AC Milan.

He was linked with both Chelsea and Manchester United when TONY STENSON they were seeking new managers.

And former Italian international Marco Tardelli believes Allegri would be the ideal man to eventually replace Wenger. He said: “Should Allegri win the title again this season he would have done a fantastic job and, yes, then he might join Arsenal.” Wenger has been at Arsenal for 20 years and is the longest-serving manager in English football by quite some distance.

But fans have grown increasingly frustrated with him as they wait to see if he decides to stay when his contract expires this summer.

Also in the mix to replace him is Germany boss Joachim Low, Ralph Hasenhuttl of Leipzig and ex-Arsenal favourites Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry.