Arsenal are reportedly interested in West Ham’s Tim Steidten to fill their vacant sporting director position following Edu Gaspar’s surprising move to Nottingham Forest.
According to The Telegraph, Steidten has caught Arsenal’s eye as they consider who can best take over the role Edu left behind. West Ham, however, are concerned that Arsenal will make a formal approach for Steidten, hoping to entice him with the chance to continue Edu’s impactful work at the Emirates.
Though West Ham would like to retain Steidten, they know that he could be drawn to the prospect of shaping Arsenal’s future. The Telegraph suggests that Steidten may seem an unexpected choice, given some recent challenges at West Ham. His recent signings, Niclas Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme, have had a rough start—Fullkrug made just four appearances before suffering an Achilles injury, and Guilherme has only had one appearance from the bench.
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal are seriously considering Steidten, especially since he’s earned respect for his past work at clubs like Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen. Arsenal’s leadership now faces a big decision: they could bring in a direct replacement like Steidten or take this opportunity to reshape their management structure entirely.
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Meanwhile, some in the club see Jason Ayto, Edu’s current assistant, as a promising candidate to step up. Ayto is highly regarded at Arsenal, and a promotion could bring continuity in a time of change.
Edu’s departure was a shock for Arsenal fans, who have seen him play a significant role in shaping a competitive squad. The Brazilian was instrumental in bringing star players like Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, and Ben White to Arsenal, helping them mount a strong challenge in the Premier League. But now, Edu is looking for a fresh challenge, with a six-month notice period marking the transition to his new role.
Currently on gardening leave, Edu has already lined up an agreement with Nottingham Forest’s Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Olympiacos and Rio Ave. Edu will be leading Marinakis’ group of clubs at a reported salary of over £5 million per year—a figure that Arsenal reportedly couldn’t match.
In other Arsenal news, striker Gabriel Jesus has opened up about his current frustration with limited game time. With Kai Havertz now ahead of him, Jesus has found himself spending more time on the bench, and he’s been vocal about wanting more minutes, admitting his “moment is not the best.”
Looking to the future, Arsenal are reportedly interested in Sporting CP’s rising star, 17-year-old Geovany Quenda. The young right-winger has caught the attention of several big clubs, including Manchester United, which could set up a major transfer battle in 2025 as Arsenal continues to scout top emerging talents.
While Edu’s departure marks a new chapter, Arsenal seems ready to keep moving forward, exploring fresh faces and ambitious signings to maintain their trajectory. Whether it’s Steidten or a reshuffling from within, Arsenal’s management is clearly focused on finding the right leadership to continue building a title-contending team.