Arsenal news: Edu makes shock exit and could treble his wages with rival club
Arsenal have been caught by surprise after Edu confirmed he would be leaving his role as sporting director with the Brazilian potentially joining a Premier League rival
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorArsenal are not having a good time of it on or off the pitch with sporting director Edu opting to leave.
The shock decision was announced at the start of the week and comes just 48 hours after the Gunners were beaten at Newcastle. It means they've picked up just one point from their last nine available - which has seen them lose ground to their title rivals.
The Premier League giants are now on the lookout for a new sporting director with Edu's swift exit coming as a surprise and leaving them with a major vacancy in their hierarchy. The club will need to act quickly to replace the Brazilian with an internal hire being suggested.
Here's the latest from the Emirates.
Club shocked by Edu departure
Arsenal have been caught off guard by Edu's decision to leave the club.The Brazilian has been a key ally of Arteta since the latter's appointment in December 2019. Together they have turned the Gunners into title challengers.
He was promoted to the role of sporting director in November 2022, having originally been brought to the club as technical director. But Edu has now opted to depart Arsenal having held talks with club bosses.
It is a decision that caught many fans and pundits by surprise, given Arteta's close relationship with the Brazilian. And those on the inside were also left shocked by the move to leave after five years.
Edu set for pay rise
Edu is reportedly set to treble his wages when he joins Evangelos Marinakis' group of clubs. He is now set to move on and take up a role working across Marinakis' portfolio of teams - which includes Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who are currently above the Gunners in the table.
According to the Independent, Marinakis has offered Edu a contract that would see the Brazilian more than treble his current wages. It is said that the sporting director had harboured ambitions to become Arsenal's chief executive.
Vinai Venkatesham left that post in the summer, with Richard Garlick being promoted to replace him as managing director. Garlick had been working as director of football operations before he was made Venkatesham's de-facto replacement within Arsenal's management structure.
PSG move for Saliba
PSG have reportedly lodged a bit in the region of £80million for William Saliba as they look to bring the centre-half back to his homeland. The Arsenal centre-half has become one of the best players in his position in Europe over recent seasons.
Now the French champions want to try and lure him away from London with a mammoth bid, reports Fichajes. They claim that the Parisians also want to bring in Jules Kounde, who is currently at Barcelona. They are ready to pay a similar amount for him and Saliba in an effort to bolster their defence.
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