Arsenal hope the appointment of a director of football will avoid a repeat of the contract uncertainty that has overshadowed their season, according to Daily Mail.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are heading into the final 12 months of their existing deals, meaning they could sign a free transfer pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January.
Similarly, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere are in identical positions regarding their contracts.
The paper claims that one of the main remits of the club’s first ever technical director will be to ensure the club are not left in a similar position again.
Arsenal have begun the search to fill the role, though it remains to be seen if they will appoint a new figurehead before next season.
The new appointment will be expected to play a lead role in ensuring the club assertively complete transfer deals.
Arsenal have shown a hesitancy in the transfer market in recent campaigns – their failure to successfully close a swoop for then Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain in 2013, despite a move being close to completion, a case in point.
This isn’t the first time Arsenal have been faced with the prospect of losing their players for nothing.
Previously, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy were allowed to enter the final 12 months of their contracts.
The trio were eventually sold after failing to agree extensions as the club ensured they wouldn’t leave for nothing a year later. All three went on to win the Premier League. Bacary Sagna also left for Manchester City on a free transfer in 2014.
The long-running failure to complete earlier contract extensions has highlighted significant flaws in the club’s strategy towards renegotiating existing players contracts.
And there is now an acknowledgement behind-the-scenes that the failure to tie their top stars down to new contracts before they enter the final two years of their deals has left them vulnerable.
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