Arsene Wenger could leave his position as Arsenal manager in the summer with informal discussions already being held with his desired replacement Mikel Arteta, according to the Daily Mirror.
The newspaper believe that Wenger has his doubts about continuing beyond the summer and a clause in his contract would allow him and the board to review his situation at the end of the season.
The Daily Mirror report that Wenger wants former Gunner Arteta to succeed him and that informal talks have been held with the 35-year-old by the club.
It’s unknown whether Arteta would been keen on taking the role, with him currently at Manchester City, but he is believed to he held in the highest regard by the Gunners’ chief executive Ivan Gazdis.
The same report believes that Wenger would take a role on Arsenal’s board and despite this, some of the Gunners’ hierarchy remain hesitant to listen to Wenger’s advice about his successor.
OPINION
There has been suggestions before that Arteta could be the man to take over from Wenger, but it was still be a surprise to see him take the reigns for next season. Every year there seems be a hint that it may be Wenger’s last season; before it ends with him staying in charge. While we’re closer to the end of Wenger’s reign than the start, it’s hard to believe any report that predicts it as so many have been wrong in the past.