Arsenal have reportedly identified Andoni Zubizarreta as their new No.1 target in the search for a director of football.
The Gunners were forced to go back to the drawing board in their bid to replace Sven Mislintat after Monchi went to Sevilla and Marc Overmars penned a contract extension at Ajax.
But they're now targeting Marseille's Spanish sporting director to fill the top job at the Emirates, according to L'Equipe .
The former goalkeeper played over 300 times for Barcelona and won over 100 Spain caps during his playing days and was named director of football at Barcelona in 2010.
He signed the likes of Neymar, Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Alba during his time at the Nou Camp before being sacked in 2015.
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Marseille handed him a return to the game as sporting director in October 2016, and they currently sit fourth in Ligue 1.
Arsenal are facing a huge summer and look set to be required to work on a tight budget.
Manager Unai Emery recently discussed the importance of bringing in a director of football to work on transfers behind the scenes so he can concentrate on his side.
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"We need a sporting director, it's coming," Emery declared. "The most important thing is my focus with the players in each match.
"The club is working and thinking for next season."
It appears he may be set to get his wish as the Gunners aim to bring Zubizarreta on board having missed out on their first two targets.
