Arsenal have been keen to appoint a director of football for a number of years but have been met with opposition from Arsene Wenger. However, with the 67-year-old’s time at the Emirates nearing an end, the north London club have opted to take the plunge. Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb claim the Gunners have already reached an agreement with Marc Overmars who will assume the role from next season. The Dutchman knows the club well and is experienced in the job, having acted as Ajax’s director of football since 2012.

GETTY Marc Overmars is reportedly set to become Arsenal's director of football

GETTY Arsene Wenger has always been opposed to a director of football at Arsenal

Following his retirement from playing, Overmars joined the board of Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles, where he began his career. He later became a youth coach for Ajax before moving upstairs as a director and has since won three Eredivisie titles with the Amsterdam club. It is said the 44-year-old’s appointment is to help smooth Wenger’s departure at the end of the 2018/19 season and assist his replacement. However, Wenger has always insisted he has no interest in working alongside a director of football.

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