Gazidis steps up to transfer role

IVAN GAZIDIS is expected to take a more direct role in Arsenal’s transfer negotiations now that Dick Law, the club’s negotiator, is leaving — but it seems inevitable Arsenal will eventually appoint a director of football.

The Arsenal chief executive, who bore the brunt of criticism for what was viewed a chaotic transfer window, has moved his office to the London Colney training ground and is working there regularly for the first time since he joined the club in 2008, a further sign of the transition promised as the Arsene Wenger years draw to an end.

Gazidis, Law, Wenger and Jaeson Rosenfeld, the chief executive of Arsenal’s own statistics company, StatDNA, have made up what is effectively Arsenal’s transfer committee. Huss Fahmy, the contract lawyer recruited from Team Sky in the summer, is not thought to be experienced enough in football to take on the role.

Law survived a summer shake up after Gazidis had promised the summer would be a ‘catalyst for change’ but is not renewing his deal with the club. With Wenger likely to be in his final stretch the club appears to be moving to a model less dominated by the manager — though it may not be fully implemented until Wenger leaves.