Speculation about legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s next job may finally be at an end.
“I believe I will start again on 1 January,” Wenger recently hinted to SportBILD, though when asked at what team, he added:
“I don’t know yet. I am well rested and ready to work again.”
Now the speculation seems to be over as France Football has confirmed rumours that the manager of Arsenal for 22 years is set to join the North London club’s former Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis at AC Milan.
After Elliott Management, the hedge fund founded by US billionaire Paul Singer, seized control of the Serie A club, pledging to bring stability, Ivan Gazidis left a decade as CEO at The Gunners in September where he has helped the team to unparalleled financial success to take over the helm in Milan.
Raul Sanllehi and Vinai Venkatesham jointly step up to fill Gazidis’ role at Arsenal this month.
But with the new Milan owners as keen as Arsenal are to return to Champions League football it appears that Gazidis is not the only North London legend who has been in talks to join the club.
Arsene Wenger has reportedly been in talks for weeks to replace Gennaro Gattuso in the manager role.
Elliott Management owners billionaires Paul and Gordon Singer are said to be close to a deal to bring the well-loved record-winning former Arsenal manager to Italy.
Arsenal under Wenger beat AC Milan in the Europa League last season.
AC Milan are currently fourth place in the Serie A table on joint points with Lazio.
Arsenal have the fifth spot, just behind Tottenham FC, but with a game in hand on their North London rivals.
Unai Emery, Wenger’s replacement at the Emirates Stadium is on a great run, with Arsenal winning 12 of their past 14 games, with a draw against Liverpool FC on the weekend.
Emery boasts an impressive set of wins in the Europa League — only Giovanni Trapattoni has won the competition as many times, so it will be a tasty fixture if the two teams meet again.