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Ajax fear Marc Overmars will join Arsenal and are already looking for possible replacements.

Football.London understands that the Dutch giants consider Arsenal’s interest in their director of football as ‘serious’ and are putting plans in place for his departure.

The Gunners are looking to appoint a new sporting director as part of a shake-up of the club’s technical staff behind the scenes.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis is pushing for the changes - which also include an overhaul of the club’s scouting network - and the appointment of a new academy manager.

Gazidis also wants some new coaching staff brought in to work alongside manager Arsene Wenger, should he extend his two decade long stay at the Emirates beyond the end of this season.

But it’s the appointment of a new sporting director which will be the biggest change, with Wenger having always steered away from working alongside someone in the role.

And Overmars has emerged as the leading candidate, having done the job successfully at Ajax since moving from Go Ahead Eagles in 2012.

The former Dutch international winger spent three years as a player at Arsenal between 1997 and 2000 - playing a major part in the 1997/98 double success, scoring 16 goals.

He left in 2000 to join Barcelona in a £32 million joint deal with Emmanuel Petit.