Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly a top candidate of potential managers to come in at Real Madrid this summer.
The Spaniard has led Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table with nine games remaining, eight points ahead of defending champions Manchester City.
According to The Mirror, Arsenal are preparing for the worst-case scenario in case Real Madrid comes calling at the end of the season.
Despite having a contract until the end of next season, current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is being sought by the Brazilian FA to manage the national side following Tite’s departure following their World Cup quarter-final exit.
According to the report, if Arteta wins the Premier League this season, he may regard it as a job well done at the Emirates and move on to greener pastures.
Arsenal’s favoured candidate to succeed Arteta is likely to be Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Despite this, reports persist that De Zerbi is the next in line. The Italian only joined the Amex in September of last year, following Graham Potter’s exit, but he has helped the Seagulls grow and even has them dreaming of Europe.
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The agent of the Brighton boss, Edoardo Crnjar, is said to have received signs from Arsenal that they were interested in signing the Italian.
Bringing De Zerbi in as a replacement, on the other hand, would be difficult, with any interested party having to pay £13M to lure him away from the Amex.
The Gunners have nine Premier League games remaining, including trips to the Etihad, Anfield, and St. James’ Park. All three games could decide whether Arteta will be crowned champion at the end of May.
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