The future of Arsenal Sporting Director, Edu Gaspar, hangs in the balance as a Premier League club sets its sights on him for a pivotal role. Nottingham Forest is reportedly keen on recruiting the former Brazilian midfielder who has played an instrumental role in Arsenal’s transfer dealings since his return to the club in 2019.
According to reports, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is interested in bringing Edu onboard. The proposed position would be akin to that of a CEO at City Ground. In this capacity, Edu would become Marinakis’ right-hand man and oversee all football-related activities in the Midlands. Moreover, his responsibilities wouldn't stop there; he would also play a significant role at Marinakis’ other clubs which include Rio Ave and Greek giants Olympiacos.
Uncertainty surrounds potential Move
While this offer seems enticing on paper, it remains unclear what stance Edu will take regarding this potential move. Current understanding suggests that he is content with his position at North London and plans to stay beyond this season.
Edu shares an excellent rapport with manager Mikel Arteta; both are committed to restoring Arsenal's glory both domestically and on the European stage.
A glimpse into his approach
Edu recently shed light on his approach towards potential signings and exits at Arsenal during an appearance on the Men in Blazers podcast. This insight provides fans with a glimpse into how he navigates player transfers - one of many responsibilities under his purview as sporting director.
Arsenal Sporting Director, Edu Gaspar, said:
“When you live in the football world, sometimes I have to be simple on the decisions, and sometimes you have to make decisions even if the decision is unpopular. You have to be very strong on your ideas, what you believe, what is good for the club, what is good for the future of the club, and everything. For me, there are some elements here in football which will always be with a lot of attention. I started to see the squads when I joined, and for me, there are three elements to look for.
“First of all, we have to see the age of the player, then you have to see the salary of the player, and third, you have to see the performance of the player. So if you have a player over 26 or 27 years old, you need attention. If his salary is high, you need attention, and if he’s not performing, you’re dead.
“If you have a player, 27 years or 28 years old, on a big salary, but he’s performing, you can accept. What you cannot accept is if you have those three elements, and one of them when over 28 you start to be uncomfortable, it’s better to move on, because maybe this player is blocking someone younger as an asset to help you.”
Under Edu’s watchful eye, it has been quite a busy summer at Emirates Stadium already. The Gunners have signed David Raya permanently before securing Riccardo Calafiori's signature too. Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino looks set to become their third addition of the summer transfer window. While the offer from Nottingham Forest is substantial, it remains to be seen whether Edu Gaspar will leave his current role at Arsenal. His contributions have been significant, and his departure would undoubtedly leave a void. However, for now, it seems that he is focused on the task at hand - strengthening Arsenal's squad for the upcoming season.
