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Arsenal are set to lose sporting director Edu Gaspar with the Brazilian poised to join up with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and his network of clubs.
The departure will remove one of Mikel Arteta’s key allies at the Emirates after a successful period establishing the Gunners as one of the most efficient clubs in Europe in the transfer market.
Edu has been in talks with the Marinakis group and could now lead their recruitment to assist with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Greek club Olympiacos, as well as Portuguese side Rio Ave.
The Independent understands Edu had held ambitions to become CEO at Arsenal, a position the Marinakis group is willing to meet, while also improving his wages by more than three times that of his existing salary at the Emirates.
The Brazilian has played a vital role in Arteta’s side emerging as Premier League title contenders with some of the best business in recent years including the signings of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
The former Arsenal midfielder has established himself as one of the game’s leading sporting directors after impressing with both signings and trimming down the Gunners’ squad after selling Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
The move will force a reshuffle at the top of the Arsenal hierarchy at a pivotal time for the club and their push to wrestle the title away from Manchester City.
The 46-year-old has been on record about his pride in shifting the culture at the Emirates and “changing how people see our club and the vision people have of Arsenal compared to the past.”
Edu maintained winning was not enough for Arsenal and their style was also paramount to their success.
“I want to win the best way possible,” he said. “When we win the trophy, it is because we did it the right way. Ask every single Arsenal fan how they feel about that.”
Edu provided an insight into Arsenal’s latest window, revealing his pride at business that included Italy international Riccardo Calafiori, Spain midfielder Mikel Merino and late deals for goalkeeper Neto from Bournemouth and Raheem Sterling from Chelsea on loan.
“It’s the last day, the last minutes, so (it’s been) a long day, a long transfer window but in the end, I think we as a club have to be proud once again. The way we are working together, the way we did all the deals,” Edu told the club’s website in August.
“I think we are in a very good situation when see all the loan players in the right clubs. You see the signings we have like Riccardo and like Merino, so the players that we planned to sign, our targets, they are here. Also the players that we decided to sell, I think we sold them for the right price, to the right clubs, in the right way also which is important.
“So today to be here on the last day of the transfer window, to get someone like Sterling, who I believe will be someone very important for the squad, who is going to give a lot to the team. So it’s a pleasure, and in the end everyone – not only me because there are a lot of people working here as well – but it’s a pleasure we are finishing the transfer window.”
The Brazilian midfielder was signed by Arsene Wenger and became an integral part of ‘The Invincibles’ alongside teammates Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown.
States of Play by Miguel Delaney publishes with Seven Dials on 7 November. The book can be pre-ordered here
