Arsenal identify ideal replacement for Edu after sporting director's exit, with meetings planned in Los Angeles with Bayer Leverkusen supremo

Edu's five-year stint at Arsenal is coming to an end with the Brazilian set for a move to the Midlands to oversee operations at Nottingham Forest. He was responsible for bringing the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to North London but now the Gunners must find someone else to lead their transfer strategy. Leverkusen's Rolfes is just one name under consideration, according to reports. Arsenal executives are set to meet in Los Angeles in the week to discuss potential replacements for their sporting director.

With Arsenal's season not going according to plan so far, head coach Mikel Arteta may want a new sporting director through the door as soon as possible to deliver some January transfers. There is a lot of ground to make up on Premier League leaders Liverpool and their squad is looking thin with several injuries pegging them back.

Edu spent four years at Arsenal during his playing career between 2001-2005. He made 127 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 15 times.

Alongside Rolfes, the North London club are reportedly looking at Monaco's Thiago Scuro and West Ham's Tim Steidten. When they decide to pull the trigger, things could move very quickly for the Gunners.