Could Arsenal go after Real Sociedad director of football Roberto Olabe when he leaves his post at the end of this season?

Arsenal are looking for a new sporting director after Edu resigned earlier this month, and while they have put his former assistant Jason Ayto in interim charge of his duties, the Gunners could be keeping tabs on a fresh development after it emerged that a renowned director of football could soon become available.

According to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Real Sociedad director of football Roberto Olabe will leave his post at the end of this season, with the news set to place some of the game’s leading clubs on high alert.

The 57-year-old does not have a new job lined up for him, but could Arsenal be keen on bringing him to North London as a permanent replacement for Edu?

Real Madrid and Aston Villa have both looked at Olabe in the past, and his achievements at Sociedad speak volumes.

The English-speaking Spaniard played for the La Liga club before coaching their youth and senior teams after retiring, returning to the club in 2018 as director of football.

Olabe helped them oversee the sales of Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino to Arsenal, and Alexander Isak to Newcastle United.

Apart from helping to generate much-needed funds for Sociedad by selling players for huge profit, their recruitment under him has made them a force to reckon with in the Spanish top-flight.

They won the Copa del Rey in 2020, their first major trophy since 1987, and have become regular finishers in the European zone in La Liga since 2019-20.

Arsenal need someone with the right contacts and experience in their bid to get the perfect successor to Edu, and Olabe fits the bill.

He knows manager Mikel Arteta having signed the former midfielder for Sociedad back in 2004, and while a reunion could be mooted going forward, the Gunners boss will have a huge say in the choice of who will become the next sporting director of Arsenal.