RB Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that he has been contacted about potentially taking over as Arsenal manager when Arsene Wenger leaves.

Reports earlier this week claimed officials from the Emirates had held informal talks with the Austrian as they assess their options on the off chance Wenger calls time on his Gunners reign when his contract ends in July.

“It was a well-researched story,” Hasenhuttl told a press conference when quizzed on the story.

“There was a lot of truth to it. I have heard of worse fates than succeeding the longest-serving manager in England. It’s not damaging my reputation, is it?”

“We don’t have to put too much thought into it,” he added. “I have found my luck here.”

Hasenhuttl was capped by Austria and enjoyed a steady playing career in his homeland (we think he may have played Arsenal in the European Cup while at Austria Wien), Belgium and Germany before starting his life as a coach in the lower leagues of the latter in 2007. After an unspectacular start in the dugout, his rise in the last three years has been phenomenal.

The 49-year-old led Ingolstadt to the top flight from the lower reaches of Bundesliga 2 in 2015 before moving to RB Leipzig in the summer. The Red Bull-funded franchise are currently unbeaten after 12 games and top the Bundesliga, three points ahead of giants Bayern Munich. Impressive stuff.

Of course, for all the recent headlines, it remains to be seen whether Herr Hasenhuttl is the new Jurgen Klopp or if he’s the continental answer to Owen Coyle…time will tell. Football moves very quickly.

What is certainly interesting is that the club appears to be putting feelers out on the coaching front. Arseblog News still expects Wenger to sign a new contract at the end of the season but in light of this news, it’s obviously not a foregone conclusion.