Arsenal are edging closer to landing their permanent replacement for Unai Emery but Manchester City are digging in their heels over Mikel Arteta.
Even City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken recently about Arteta's qualities as a coach and on how he won't stand in the way of the Spaniard.
It won't be quite that simple for Arsenal, though, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The permanent vacancy opened up last month when Emery was sacked by the Gunners, who installed former star player Freddie Ljungberg as their interim boss.
Ljungberg has never looked likely to keep the job for the long-term and now it appears certain that a more experienced coach will take the reigns.
But that man is not going to be an experienced manager it appears, with Arteta, an assistant with Guardiola at City for the last three years, the favourite to land the role.
Arsenal are in talks with Arteta over a move but the MEN say that City are 'furious' with the Gunners.
The Londoners met with Arteta on Monday morning but it has been claimed that City were 'not aware' of their intentions.
Arsenal are reported to have not made any formal contact with City over swooping for Arteta, with the Blues particular angry about not being consulted first.
City will now 'demand the full seven-figure compensation fee' for Arteta.
After Manchester City's 3-0 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Guardiola spoke about Arteta's future, admitting that there have been offers for him to leave in the past, and that he will decide his own future.
"He is part of the huge success we’ve had. An important important part," Guardiola said in an interview with Sky Sports.
"You know I think ultimately he knows because we’ve spoken two or three times on my opinion with him at the club about Mikel. What will happen will happen.
"I think he’s part of our staff so what is going to happen I don’t know. We talked. We’ve had offers. Had many offers. More than us.
"At the end it’s personal. If he wants to talk we’ll talk but it’s private. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable."
