Liverpool could be a step nearer making a key backroom staff appointment with Arsenal now advertising for a new head of sports medicine.
It was reported earlier this month that Gunners' Gary O'Driscoll is the favourite to take over from Andrew Massey, who is shortly to leave his role Liverpool's head of medical services.
Massey will leave Anfield on March 1 as he takes up a role with FIFA and the Reds have already begun the process of identifying a successor.
The Athletic are now reporting that Arsenal have posted an advert on their jobs website for a new head of sports medicine, with an applications deadline set for shortly before the end of this month.
O'Driscoll has been with the Emirates Stadium side since 2009 and is highly regarded.
According to the report, Liverpool made an approach for O'Driscoll towards the end of last year and he is thought to have agonised over whether to move to Anfield for several weeks before handing in his resignation earlier this month.
New Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was said to be close to O’Driscoll from the Spaniard's playing days in North London and the new head coach reportedly tried hard to persuade him to stay. Arsenal have declined to comment.
Before his time at Arsenal, O'Driscoll spent six years as doctor for the Irish rugby union team and was official doctor on two British & Irish Lions rugby tours. He is the son of former Ireland rugby full-back Barry O'Driscoll and cousin of former Ireland and British Lions captain, Brian O'Driscoll.
