ARSENAL technical director Edu is under huge pressure following the team’s dismal start to the new season, according to reports.
And it’s believed the Gunners are considering replacing the Brazilian administrator with Dutch legend Marc Overmars.
According to the Daily Express, Arsenal may decide to sack Edu, 43, in the near future – if his summer signings don’t pay dividends.
The ex-midfielder is in charge of the club’s transfer business and has spent more than £300MILLION on players since his arrival in July 2019.
The Gunners have decided to invest in youth this summer, spending more than £130m on five players aged 23 or under.
Edu’s relationship with the supporters has strained recently, with his wife giving a fan the middle finger during their defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
Arsenal are said to be plotting a move for Overmars – who helped them win the Premier League and FA Cup in 1997-98 – if Edu’s transfers backfire.
The ex-winger has been Ajax’s director of football since 2012, helping the famous club achieve significant success on and off the field.
Ajax are the reigning Dutch champions and narrowly missed out on a place in the 2019 Champions League final, suffering a late defeat to Tottenham.
But they remain a selling club and are unable to consistently compete with Europe’s elite, with Arsenal aiming much higher.
Arsenal are also reportedly considering experienced coach Ralf Rangnick to replace Edu, who is currently in a similar role at Lokomotiv Moscow.
And they are believed to be interested in former Chelsea and Monaco technical director Michael Emenalo.
Edu’s questionable business
The first player to be signed under Edu’s leadership at the Emirates was William Saliba, who is yet to make his debut, for £27m in July 2019.
Arsenal also splashed out £72m on Nicolas Pepe that summer but the winger is yet to convince, scoring just 15 Premier League goals for the club.
Perhaps one of the more bizarre signings was 32-year-old David Luiz, spending £8m on a fading talent and handing him a two-year contract.
Edu made a similar mistake 12 months later, giving 32-year-old Willian a THREE-YEAR contract worth £220,000-a-week.
And they’ve recently spend £24m on goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, despite selling the impressive Emi Martinez for just £20m a year earlier.
Alexandre Lacazette’s contract is also set to expire in just 12 months’ time and Arsenal have a let a number of expensive signings – including Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi – leave on free transfers in recent years.
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