Arsenal are closing in on a deal that will make Andrea Berta their new sporting director.
The Gunners have been on the hunt for a new sporting director ever since Edu resigned from the post in November of last year.
Arsenal launched a thorough recruitment process after that and it is now expected to conclude with Berta getting the job.
The Italian arrives with an impressive reputation after spending 12 years at Atletico Madrid before resigning in January.
Berta had been, according to multiple reports in Italy, attracting strong interest from Serie A giants AC Milan - but is said to have turned them down last week.
The 53-year-old is set to takeover at Arsenal and will be able to begin in the post now given he is currently out of work.
Jason Ayto, who is Arsenal’s assistant sporting director, had stepped up to be the interim sporting director after Edu left.
It remains to be seen what his future holds, but the club are known to be big fans of him and he was candidate to replace Edu.
The process to find a new sporting director was led by executive vice-char Tim Lewis and managing director Richard Garlick, with input from manager Mikel Arteta.
The Italian arrives with an impressive reputation after spending 12 years at Atletico Madrid before resigning in January.
The ultimate sign-off on any appointment comes from the club’s owners, the Kroenke family, and Josh Kroenke has been involved in this recruitment process.
Arsenal began by employing a recruitment firm to draw up a long list of candidates for the role of sporting director. That was then reduced to a shortlist and interviews took place.
A string of people have been linked with the role, including former Manchester United chief Dan Ashworth.
Arsenal face a big summer as they look to bolster their squad and fight for major trophies next season.
The club also have a number of players’ contracts they want to extend - such as Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. Both players will have two years on their deals come the summer.
Arsenal will also look to sell players in the summer and there is set to be interest in the likes of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
