PARIS WEXIT ROUTE BLOCK IN THE DARK Ste’s a Vrij magnet
The French giants, who have failed to lure Wenger to Paris on three previous occasions, no longer view him as a first-choice target.
That is why they have yet to make any approach for the Arsenal boss, 67, despite the huge crisis currently engulfing his own Emirates future.
PSG are likely to be looking for a new coach in June following the club’s poor Ligue 1 title defence and disastrous last 16 Champions League exit to Barcelona.
Spanish coach Unai Emery (below) is set to be sacked as a result – and most assumed Wenger would again be a prime contender to take over.
However, it seems Arsenal’s persistent failures in Europe have seriously damaged his chances of landing the biggest domestic job across the Channel.
The Gunners have not reached the last eight of the Champions League for seven straight years.
And that dismal record means Wenger has dropped well down the PSG pecking order of possible replacements for Emery, who replaced Laurent Blanc in the summer.
Juventus chief Massimiliano Allegri, Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli and Monaco counterpart Leonardo Jardim, who masterminded Man City’s Champions League exit, are all in front of Wenger – who is still to confirm whether he will stay or leave Arsenal at the end of the campaign.
One man who is convinced that he must remain is the former Arsenal midfield maestro Robert Pires.
The Frenchman, 43, who trains regularly at the club’s London Colney base, insists Wenger, into his 21st year at the helm, can turn Arsenal’s fortunes around.
The Gunners legend, part of the 2004 Invincibles team, said: “Arsene needs to give the club stability and stay for another year. He’s still the best manager for
Arsenal.” CHELSEA and Everton are eyeing a summer move for Lazio’s Stefan de Vrij.
The defender, 25, turned down a new contract earlier this month and the £30million-rated Dutchman looks certain to leave Serie A at the end of the season.
Once a target for Man United, De Vrij would be a perfect fit to play under Holland legend and his former Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman at Goodison Park. That idea is thought to be very tempting for the centre-half.
But any move from Chelsea – with Champions League football on offer – would be hard to turn down.
De Vrij still has 14 months left on his current deal and Lazio would rather sell him for a fee this summer than let him walk away for nothing in 2018.