Arsenal transfer news: Monchi, Francis Cagigao, Denis Suarez, Emil Audero
Gunners ramp up search for new head of recruitment to replace Sven Mislintat

The man to replace Mislintat?
Speculation is growing as to who Arsenal will appoint to replace Sven Mislintat as the club’s head of recruitment.
Metro says that former Sevilla “transfer guru” Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo - better known as Monchi - is the favourite. Gunners boss Unai Emery is reportedly keen to renew his partnership with the man who helped him turn Sevilla into a European force a few years ago.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The newspaper claims that Emery “has given the green light to pursuing the 50-year-old”, who brought champions including Ivan Rakitic and Dani Alves to the Spanish club.
Monchi, currently AS Roma’s sporting director, told The Sun: “I know my name is being associated with Arsenal but I am concentrating on my job with Roma. However, it is a pleasure being linked with a club like Arsenal – but it is not first time that happens.”
Cagigao a contender
Hold your horses, says the London Evening Standard, which believes Francis Cagigao is the front runner to replace Mislintat.
Currently head of international recruitment at the Emirates, Cagigao has made no secret of the fact that he wants the role when Mislintat leaves on 8 February.
The newspaper also reports that Ajax technical director Marc Overmars is in the running to become Arsenal’s sporting director, with another former Gunner, Edu, “having distanced himself from the role”.
The Dutchman “was unavailable for comment” when asked by the newspaper about the claims.
Suarez deal is off
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez is over, “after talks broke down between the two clubs”, the Daily Mail reports.
A deal had been expected by the end of the week but the Spanish club has called off negotiations after the Gunners insisted they would only take the playmaker on loan. Barcelona wanted a permanent deal for Suarez, but with money tight at the Emirates that couldn’t be arranged.
Terms and conditions
According to Metro, the Gunners offered a €2m (£1.7m) loan fee but “could not agree on the inclusion of a clause which would require them to permanently sign the midfielder”.
The paper adds that Barcelona had proposed a loan deal but only on the condition that Suarez sign a new contract with them.
His current deal runs out in June 2020 and the Catalan club are said to have been worried that they would get less for him at the end of the season, with so little time left on his contract. That wasn’t acceptable to Arsenal, leading the talks to collapse.
New Gunners gloveman
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero, reports Football.London, which claims the 22-year-old is being lined up to replace Petr Cech when he retires at the end of the season.
The young shot-stopper is enjoying an impressive season in Serie A on loan at Sampdoria, appearing in all 20 of their league games.
Although Sampdoria do have an option to make Audero’s move permanent, Italian media claim that Arsenal are tailing him - and are ready to make Juventus an irresistible offer.
Indonesia-born Audero is unlikely to break into the Juventus first team in the immediate future, so the Italian champions should think seriously about any offer from north London.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The secrets of lab-grown chocolate
Under The Radar Chocolate created 'in a Petri dish' could save crisis-hit industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Trade war with China threatens U.S. economy
Feature Trump's tariff battle with China is hitting U.S. businesses hard and raising fears of a global recession
By The Week US
-
Corruption: The road to crony capitalism
Feature Trump's tariff pause sent the stock market soaring — was it insider trading?
By The Week US
-
Where are all the English football managers?
Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?
Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
By The Week UK
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling