1 Overmars spent four years at Arsenal and won the Double under Wenger in 1997-98

Arsenal want Marc Overmars to be their first-ever director of football in a major shake-up of their coaching system under boss Arsene Wenger.

Wenger will see this as a challenge to his authority, but senior Arsenal chiefs want an experienced head in to oversee transfers and direct the club’s football ethos.

The Frenchman has come under increasing pressure with dire results in recent weeks making a top-four finish look unlikely for the first time in his tenure at the Emirates.

And Overmars, who spent four years at the club, winning the Double with Wenger in 1997-98, is the lead candidate to take the role, according to the Daily Mail.

The Dutchman, 44, is director of football at Ajax, while Michael Zorc, who is in the same role at Borussia Dortmund, is another candidate being considered.

Wenger is expected to be in charge next summer will have £200million transfer fund to radically re-shape the playing staff this summer after what looks likely to be the club’s worst league finish since 1995-96 when they finished 5th.

Wenger will oversee the club’s remodelling that will see a number of players heading in both directions in and out of the club, according to The Mirror.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud are among the players who could be leaving.