Nuno Espirito Santo is the ‘leading contender’ to replace under pressure Unai Emery as Arsenal manager, reports claim.
Emery is under severe scrutiny after a miserable start to the season, with Arsenal fans turning on him as they sit eight points off fourth-placed Chelsea.
Santo’s Wolves, meanwhile, are fifth (though only one point ahead of the Gunners) and recovered from a poor start to the season as they adapted to life in the Europa League and since charged up the Premier League table.
Emery’s position is being considered on a game-by-game basis and his cause wasn’t helped by a dismal 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened Southampton.
Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi has a long-standing relationship with Nuno’s agent Jorge Mendes and the club’s hierarchy have been impressed by his work, according to the Daily Mail.
The 45-year-old is thought to be ahead of Mauricio Pochettino – recently sacked by Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur – in the pecking order but they are aware that he may be tough to land mid-season.
If they do pull the trigger on Emery, it’s likely Freddie Ljungberg would take the reins until the end of the season, with a permanent boss coming in beyond that.
AFP
