Arsenal are considering appointing former player Marc Overmars to the role of director of football, according to the Mirror.
The club want to recruit a new figurehead to oversee transfers and the overall football ethos, and Overmars is among their candidates.
Under-fire boss Arsene Wenger has always had the final say over incomings and outgoings in his 21-year reign, but that could be set to change should he pen an extension and stay at the Emirates.
The Mirror claims the club are planning a £200million summer rebuild – with Wenger set to be entrusted with the cash despite Arsenal’s form.
The 67-year-old is already working on his summer plans and could end up cashing in on Mesut Ozil, who has stalled on a £280,000 -a-week contract offer, and Jack Wilshere, who is a £20m target for West Ham, while Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all interested in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Olivier Giroud has become fed-up at being a bit-part player this season and David Ospina, Lucas Perez and a raft of squad players could all go too to free up additional cash on top of the approximately £100m already set aside for transfers in the next window.
Alexis Sanchez has been a target for Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but there is a feeling he is ready to give it one more year – especially as that may mean him becoming a free-agent at the end of next season.
Armed with his transfer war-chest, Wenger will be able to make ambitious moves in the market with Arsenal wanting a keeper, two full-backs, a deep-lying midfielder, two wide-men and a striker.
Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette is top of the striker hit-list.
Two Celtic stars, left-back Kieran Tierney and forward Moussa Dembele, are also on the radar.
Arsenal have joined Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha’s growing list of admirers, with Tottenham and Manchester City also in the hunt.
Sunderland starlet Jordan Pickford and Stoke’s England international Jack Butland are two potential keeper targets.
Dutch former winger Overmars was a fan favourite during his three-year stint at the Emirates, racking up 100 Premier League appearances and scoring 25 goals.
He is currently director of football at Ajax.
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