Report: Arsenal now considering Director who oversaw £35m Folarin Balogun deal as Edu replacement

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Arsenal are weeks away from embarking on the January transfer window without a Director of Football – after Edu Gaspar chose to resign.

Edu is wanted by Evangelos Marinakis – owner of Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos and Rio Ave – to oversee his network of clubs, a role the Brazilian is keen to take on.

As such, Mikel Arteta has been left without his right hand man amidst a delicate period at the Emirates Stadium – with Arsenal seeming to stagnate a little, sitting fourth in the Premier League and 12th in the UEFA Champions League.

Now – however – Arsenal are considering Thiago Scuro for the vacancy.

Arsenal could hire Thiago Scuro

A story from Gianluca Di Marzio states that Arsenal are monitoring the 43-year-old’s situation at AS Monaco after losing Edu Gaspar.

It was Scuro who oversaw AS Monaco’s £35m signing of Folarin Balogun from Arsenal back in August 2023 – a window in which he also signed Thilo Kehrer, Wilfried Singo and Denis Zakaria, all of whom were mostly financed by the £38.8m sale of Axel Disasi to Chelsea.

The Brazilian’s efforts working for the French giants helped them qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in six years last term – finishing second in Ligue 1 behind PSG.

Scuro’s project is going from strength to strength, with AS Monaco sitting second this season – six points behind PSG – with the best defensive record in France, while they also sit third in the UEFA Champions League after three wins and a draw from four outings.

Mikel Arteta may have to wait for Edu Gaspar replacement

If Arsenal do decide to pursue Scuro, an appointment might not happen immediately.

Di Marzio specifically writes that Arsenal are considering the South American “for next season” – so the Gunners may not be able to pinch him from AS Monaco until the 2024/25 campaign is over.

Of course, that might frustrate Arteta, but this is an important role to fill – arguably the most important job within a football club in the modern era.

Therefore, it would be foolish to rush into an appointment of someone who doesn’t align with what Arsenal aim to do going forwards, so if Scuro is deemed as the main target, he is worth waiting for.