Arsenal eye Bayer Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes as replacement for Edu

Arsenal have identified Bayer Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes as a potential replacement for departed sporting director Edu, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners have been linked with AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro and West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten, while outgoing Real Sociedad director of football Roberto Olabe could also emerge as a target.

Arsenal have placed Edu’s former assistant Jason Ayto in interim charge of the position, but they are looking at other options and the Leverkusen chief has admirers at the North London club.

The 42-year-old Rolfes helped the Bundesliga club win the top-flight title last season for the first time since they were established 120 years ago, and his stocks have risen.

The German have made Leverkusen a force to reckon with as they ended the league unbeaten in 2023-24 and also reached the final of the Europa League, and those achievements have impressed Arsenal.

The executives of the North London club are in Los Angeles this week for talks with the club’s ownership for plans about 2025, and getting a replacement for Edu will be top of their agenda.

Rolfes fits the bill after helping his old club win the title after two years as their managing director of sport. He was their sporting director for four years before then and also briefly worked as their academy manager.

Sparta Prague sporting director and former Gunners star Tomas Rosicky and Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker are also reportedly in the running for the job, and more names are expected to emerge ahead of next summer.

They have to get the appointment right and whoever is replacing Edu must be capable of helping to turn them into regular Premier League winners and strong Champions League challengers.