Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta is “desperate” to be the next manager of Arsenal but before he puts pen to paper the Spaniard wants “guarantees off the board”.
According to The Sun, Arteta would “love a return to the former club he captained” but only if he can thrash out the fine print of his contract on his terms, and in the process not upset Man City.
In particular Arteta wants assurances over the “long-term project in north London before talks begin”. It’s believed that includes the final say on which players are bought and sold.
Arteta became Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad in 2016 when he hung up his boots at Arsenal, and he is ready to take the next step up the managerial leader.
The Sun says that the Sky Blues are “willing to let the 37-year-old move back to Arsenal, but would prefer he stays until the end of the season”.
That is apparently OK with Arteta, who “does not want to upset Man City”, but will it satisfy the Arsenal board?
Waiting game
Arsenal are said to have drawn up a list of 12 candidates to replace Unai Emery at the Emirates and although Arteta is one of the favourites, it may be that the hierarchy feel they have to appoint a new boss sooner rather than later given their mid-table position in the Premier League.
The two clubs clash in the league on Sunday when City visit the Emirates, and it is rumoured that Arsenal officials will sit down with their Sky Blues counterparts in the hope of reaching a deal.
“Mikel wants the job but wants to know what is on offer and guarantees from them,” an Etihad source told the Sun.
“He will then speak to the club. Nothing is going to happen before the end of this week from what we can tell.”
The Sun claims that the City owners have discussed Arteta as a possible future replacement for Pep Guardiola when he decides his time at the club is up.
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Ancelotti to Everton?
As for Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked as Napoli manager, the odds of an approach from Arsenal appear to be slim and instead it’s Everton who are being linked with the veteran Italian coach.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the 60-year-old is “keen on a return to the Premier League and the Blues’ power-brokers are weighing up a move”.
Ancelotti remains a contender for the Arsenal job but the Daily Mirror reports that his representatives have flown to London for talks with Everton.
Today’s back pages
Man City boss Guardiola hails Jesus for his ‘goaly trinity’
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