From having doubters to attracting interest, it’s safe to say that it’s been quite the turnaround for Edu since he was appointed Arsenal technical director back in 2019.
A number of questionable signings including Willian, Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares arguably set the team back, leading to calls for the Brazilian to be sacked. However, Edu eventually oversaw a major change in transfer strategy, a change which was desperately needed if the club was to compete and return to where it deserved to be - the Champions League.
Gone were the days of signing ageing players who had past their prime, instead, the attention rightfully turned towards the future. Following a thorough review of its recruitment policy, Arsenal spent more than £150million last year, bringing in six new players aged 23 or younger. Some of the players signed included Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, all of whom find themselves playing a crucial role in the team’s impressive start to the new season.
READ MORE: Arsenal 'will do anything' to secure major midfield transfer as Edu eyes Tielemans alternative
The aim to recruit “exciting young talent”, as chief executive Vinai Venkatesham described it, has remained a priority for Edu since, although the focus this summer was to raise the bar of Mikel Arteta’s squad by acquiring established quality. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus are among those to have most recently walked through the doors of London Colney, with Edu’s influence during talks for the latter proving to be key in Arsenal winning that particular race.
The former Gunners midfielder also appears to be on top of contract renewals for star players after Gabriel Magalhaes, another player Edu led negotiations for, recently signed a new long-term deal despite interest from elsewhere. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli could soon follow suit as positive talks regarding their own futures continue.
Edu’s work in north London has not gone unnoticed and according to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, more than two European clubs are showing an interest in the 44-year-old. Despite this, chief figures at Arsenal appear to have swiftly responded by opening contract talks with the technical director.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Arsenal have ‘moved to secure the future’ of Edu as a result of interest from elsewhere, in addition to the South American’s impressive work over the past two summer windows and his attempts to reduce the club’s wage bill. It’s added that ‘the wheels are in motion’ towards a new deal and that Edu is believed to be happy at the Emirates, indicating that he will commit to the current Premier League leaders.
Securing Edu to a new deal will be crucial for Stan and Josh Kroenke’s long-term visions for the club. KSE have established a positive relationship with the Brazilian and will know that they can trust him to elevate the level of the first-team squad moving forward. It will also be a relief to Arteta, who plans upcoming transfer windows alongside Edu as Josh explained at the end of last season.
“On a recruitment standpoint I will always defer to Edu and Mikel but I know they have a blueprint of the type of player and specific positions that we need to reinforce heading into the summer, so I’ll defer to them and support them in every way that we can in their pursuit of elevating the quality of the squad and also ensuring that we have the right mentality of player coming in.”
With an important and potentially busy January window just around the corner, Arsenal will be hoping to end speculation surrounding Edu’s future and in turn, conduct the necessary business in the new year that could help them fulfil their objectives in the months ahead.
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