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Jason Ayto is reportedly emerging as the leading candidate to succeed Edu as Arsenal sporting director – and he will be highly recognizable to those at the club.
Arsenal are reportedly close to appointing a permanent replacement for former sporting director Edu Gaspar, with several staff members in agreement on the ideal candidate for the role. Edu, who stepped down in November, has since taken up a broader position with Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Since Edu’s departure, Jason Ayto has been serving as the interim sporting director. Ayto, who joined Arsenal in 2014 as a video analyst and later became chief scout and recruitment coordinator, has been praised for his exemplary work ethic and understanding of data.
Arsenal has been linked with several candidates to replace Edu, including Roberto Olabe from Real Sociedad and former Manchester United chief Dan Ashworth. However recent report from Daily Mail, suggest that interim director Jason Ayto has garnered the support of several colleagues since stepping into the role temporarily. So far, all indications are that he has seamlessly adapted to his new responsibilities.
Despite Ayto’s limited experience, it is clear that he has the potential to become a significant figure in his field. Edu may have set the stage for his own successor by introducing Ayto, a relatively unknown talent, to the spotlight.
Former Arsenal player and current sporting director of Sparta Prague, Tomas Rosicky is also in the running for the position.
Rosicky, who spent ten years at Arsenal as a player, has been turning heads with his work at Sparta Prague, where he has overseen back-to-back domestic league titles. His close ties with current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and academy manager Per Mertesacker make him a strong candidate for the role.
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