Mikel Arteta wants Roberto Olabe to join him at Arsenal (Image: Getty)
manager would reportedly favour Roberto Olabe out of the candidates to replace as sporting director at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta and Edu had been side by side since 2019 before the Brazilian transfer chief handed in his resignation last month. The likes of and Jason Ayto are in the frame to step in on a permanent basis, but claim that Arteta wants Olabe, who is stepping down from a long stint with Real Sociedad at the end of the current campaign.
If the Gunners boss gets what he wants, the chances of him nabbing a number of Sociedad’s top players will naturally increase. Here, Express Sport takes you through four potential targets could look at…
Martin Zubimendi
are not the only club wise to Zubimendi’s talent. The silky central midfielder is also on ‘s radar, and a battle for his signature could kick off this coming summer as he reportedly has a release clause in his Sociedad contract.
Not only would signing Zubimendi stop bitter rivals getting hold of him, it would also provide Arteta with a different profile of midfielder, and a player capable of linking up seamlessly with former team-mate Mikel Merino.
Roberto Olabe is leaving Real Sociedad at the end of the season (Image: Getty)
Brais Mendez
With Martin Odegaard establishing himself as Arteta’s most important player, are certainly not found wanting for a new starter in attacking midfield. But a back-up option may be required if Fabio Vieira leaves permanently over the next 12 months.
The Portuguese has failed to settle in the , and he is expected to be sold once his loan stint at FC Porto is up. Though there have been no links between Mendez and , he fits the bill as a player to bolster Arteta’s forward-thinking midfield options.
He notched 11 La Liga goal contributions last season and 12 the campaign before. And at 6ft 2in, Mendez brings the height that would make even more dangerous from set-pieces.
Arsen Zakharyan
The Russian has been injured since August and he did not pull up any trees during his first season in Spain. But he was highly rated at Dynamo Moscow and once compared to .
This could therefore be an opportune moment to pursue a serious prospect for a discounted price. Still only 21 years old, Zakharyan is an attacking midfielder by trade, and Olabe is in a better position than most to judge whether he or Mendez would best fit ‘s needs.
Takefusa Kubo
The issue of back-up for is scarcely thought of, because ‘s right-winger is virtually always available. Left-footer Takefusa Kubo, 23, is an electric winger who, granted, is better on the right, but he can also play on the opposite flank.
Reinforcements out wide may be needed if Raheem Sterling heads back to at the end of the season. And , with Olabe upstairs, may be tempted by former Real Madrid man Kubo for the simple reason that he has a higher ceiling than the vast majority of Sociedad’s squad.