Arsenal are making plans to recruit a new sporting director to succeed Edu Gaspar in the coming month.
Edu Gaspar departed from his position after five years with the Gunners. He was initially appointed as the club’s first technical director in 2019 before being promoted to sporting director in 2022.
It is anticipated that Edu will join Evangelos Marinakis’ new group, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave.
Sources indicate that Arsenal is actively searching for Edu’s replacement and is narrowing down a list of potential candidates before making a final decision.
Among the names being considered are Dan Ashworth, Andrea Berta, Roberto Olabe, and Thiago Scuro.
Jason Ayto, Arsenal’s interim sporting director, who was promoted following Edu’s exit, is also under consideration.
Luis Campos of Paris Saint-Germain was also mentioned but is reportedly not a candidate.
KSE, the owners of the Premier League club, are deeply involved in the selection process, and their approval will be necessary for the final appointment.
Ashworth became available after leaving Manchester United in December after a brief five-month tenure, despite Manchester United paying a significant fee to Newcastle for his services.
Ashworth has a proven track record of success at Brighton and Newcastle, where he oversaw the signings of players like Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Ayto has been with Arsenal for ten years and served as Edu’s assistant for two years.
He was reportedly instrumental in negotiations for Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori last summer.
Berta is recognized for his role in Atletico Madrid’s success in La Liga and the Champions League during his 12-year association with manager Diego Simeone. He is reportedly seeking a position in the Premier League.
Olabe is expected to leave his role as sporting director at Real Sociedad this summer. During his tenure, he facilitated the signings of players such as Merino, Isak, Martin Odegaard, and David Silva, and also managed deals with Arsenal involving Kieran Tierney and Nacho Monreal.
Scuro has been with Monaco since 2023 and was promoted to CEO after contributing to the club’s second-place finish last season.
