Roma’s Monchi is one of the top names being considered for Arsenal’s technical director, and there is a growing feeling a deal can be done.
The Gunners are pressing ahead with restructuring of the technical staff, in moves that played a part in Sven Mislintat’s impending departure.
The outgoing head of recruitment had initially been seen as a candidate for technical director, but main target Monchi is probably one of the few football figures in Europe with a reputation equal to that of Mislintat for finding players, and would represent another coup.
Roma are said to be bracing themselves for the departure of the 50-year-old, who only joined from Sevilla in April 2017, signing a four-year contract. It was at the Spanish club that Monchi - full name Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo - enjoyed a close relationship with current Arsenal manager Unai Emery.
Monchi has meanwhile found work testing at Roma, partly because of the intensity of Italian football and how it's difficult to do his type of work in such a constant media glare.
A team built on Monchi discoveries like Ivan Rakitic won the Europa League for three successive seasons.Sources have also told The Independent that Emery has been consulted over the search for a new technical director, and naturally named his former colleague, backing any pursuit.
Arsenal want to complete the search as quickly as possible, as they continue to reshape the club after the departure of Arsene Wenger.
