Arsenal are set to appoint former Paris St Germain coach Unai Emery as their new manager to succeed Arsene Wenger, according to reports.
Emery, who joined PSG in June 2016, left the French club at the end of this season, having led them to a domestic treble in France.
PSG head coach Unai Emery gives directions to his previous team.
Photo: David Vincent
The 46-year-old Spaniard had previously been manager at Sevilla, who he steered to three Europa League triumphs.
The BBC reported that the recruitment process was led by Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, head of football relations Raul Sanllehi and head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and that an announcement and a news conference was expected later this week.
It comes the day former manager Wenger waved goodbye to the club's training ground as the speculation continued over his replacement.
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Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, currently part of Pep Guardiola's backroom team at Manchester City, had been heavily rumoured to be the leading candidate and Wenger said last week the Spaniard "has all the qualities to do the job".
Arteta, Luis Enrique and Juventus' Massimiliano Allegri were among those strongly linked to the role and Emery has only been seen as an outside bet with bookmakers since Wenger's departure was first confirmed last month.
But while Emery had helped PSG continue their domestic dominance, his departure was assured when they they failed to make significant headway in the Champions League for the second successive campaign.
PSG, who have won five French league titles in six years and are owned by big- spending Qatar Sports Investments, have struggled for success on the European stage.
Emery's team were beaten in the last-16 of the Champions League by Real Madrid this season despite breaking the world transfer record to sign Brazil striker Neymar, and were knocked out at the same stage last season by Barcelona.
Neymar was bought for 222 million euros ($A345 million) from Barcelona in the close season to help increase PSG's chances of winning Europe's elite club competition, and Emery was widely held responsible for their disappointing Champions League campaign.
It is the first time Arsenal have searched for a new manager since 1996, with Wenger departing at the end of this season after nearly 22 years at the North London club where he won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.
But outspoken former Arsenal forward-turned pundit Ian Wright, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "It's like they're at the sushi shop.
"You know the stuff that's just going past? Yeah, I'll have that. I'll take that. I'll leave those ones. No, I'll take that one now.
"What's going on at Arsenal, where's Unai Emery come from? I can't get it out of my head."
Arsenal are also in the process of overhauling the backroom staff, with the roles of assistant Steve Bould and coach Jens Lehmann among those to be decided.
It is understood that as many as six other employees will depart, including long-term coach Boro Primorac and Colin Lewin, head of the club's medical department.
AAP
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