Arsenal are in advanced discussions with Roberto Olabe to appoint him as Edu Gaspar’s replacement, with the 57-year-old set to leave Real Sociedad.
According to Foot Mercato, Roberto Olabe is the favourite candidate to replace Edu Gaspar at Arsenal as the new sporting director ahead of next season. The complications with leaving the executive role will only see the Real Sociedad man come in next summer, as he is ready to leave the Spanish club.
Arsenal have been fairly quiet in the background regarding finding a suitable replacement for Edu Gaspar. The Brazilian left his role a month or so ago to take up Evangelos Marinakis’s offer to manage his footballing activities in their multi-club module.
Edu’s tremendous work at Arsenal over the last few years requires an able replacement means the profile requires someone who can continue the project. Mikel Arteta will also want the right support behind him to carry on with his good work as first team manager, and the Gunners may have identified the right candidate already.
A few notable names have been put on the table, including PSG’s Luis Campos and West Ham United’s Tim Steidten, although the Gunners have taken a different route altogether. Real Sociedad’s 57-year-old Spanish transfer guru Roberto Olabe seems to be their primary target to replace Edu, as talks have advanced with the Spaniard.
Arsenal also had Simon Rolfes on their list, but it appears they might end up appointing Roberto Olabe at the helm. The Gunners were linked to Olabe once it became clear that the 57-year-old Spanish transfer guru would leave his role with Real Sociedad, and that remains the case, as he will relinquish his duties there by the end of the campaign.
Is Roberto Olabe the right choice for Arsenal?
Olabe packs enormous experience in the role and has also managed teams, including Real Sociedad in the past. He could also have an easier working relationship with Arteta going forward, as the pair know each other in a good capacity.
Arsenal do need someone with the experience of Olabe to continue their project, with the 57-year-old Spaniard a well-known figure in the market. While there are some high-profile candidates on their list, probably even better than Olabe, the Real Sociedad director might be what Arsenal need to take their project forward.
