Sanllehi contacts could help as Arsenal identify favoured Emery successor

Arsenal have identified Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as their favoured candidate to replace Unai Emery if the Spaniard is sacked, according to a report.

Further doubt was cast over Emery‘s future at the Emirates on Saturday after a 2-2 draw with Southampton, which left the Gunners without a win in the Premier League since the start of October.

Previous reports have suggested that Arsenal have made initial contact with the representatives of former Juventus head coach Max Allegri, but according to the Daily Mail, Nuno is now the club’s first-choice to replace Emery should the need to do so arise.

The newspaper says that the Arsenal hierarchy have been impressed by Nuno’s progress with Wolves, the Portuguese leading his team to the Championship title two seasons ago and seventh in the Premier League last term.

What’s more, the report claims that head of football Raul Sanllehi’s long-standing relationship with Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes, could provide a boost in their efforts to appoint the 45-year-old.

Having originally been publicly backed by Arsenal, it is now claimed that Emery’s future is being considered on a game-by-game basis, with the Gunners facing Norwich, Brighton and West Ham in their next three Premier League games.

Before that, though, the Gunners play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.

 

 

Read more: Collymore knows exactly when Unai Emery will be sacked by Arsenal