Arsenal ‘agree to sign Barcelona chief Raul Sanllehi’ as new as director of operations
Sanllehi has a close relationship with Gunners vice-president Ivan Gazidis and is renowned for strong transfer negotiations
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ARSENAL have reportedly agreed to sign Barcelona chief Raul Sanllehi as their new director of operations.
Sanllehi will work closely with Arsene Wenger and help bring in transfer targets, according to Sport.
The report claims he will take up his role at the Emirates in the coming weeks.
Sanllehi has a close relationship with Gunners vice-president Ivan Gazidis and is renowned for his strength in transfer negotiations.
He is credited with helping to bring Neymar, Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez to the Nou Camp.
Both Arsenal and Manchester City are said to have been keen on luring Sanllehi to the Premier League.
Sanllehi's Barca contract expires in a few days and he will then be free to sign for another club.
Arsenal are expected to land him, where he will fill the void left by Dick Law, who stepped down from his role as transfer negotiator in September.
Reports earlier this month claimed the Gunners had agreed a sensational deal to bring Marc Overmars back to North London in a new director of football position.
Arsenal legend Overmars, 44, is director of football at Ajax and was not surprised to be linked with the job at the Emirates.
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In May, Wenger ruled out the idea of working alongside a director of football.
He said: "No, director of football, I don't know what it means.
"Is it someone who stands on the road and directs the players left and right? I never understand what it means, director of football."
The Frenchman, who signed a new two-year Arsenal contract later that same month, added: "I'm manager of Arsenal and as long as I am manager, I will decide what happens on the technical front."
