Arsene Wenger has been informed of an impending radical overhaul of his backroom staff and the structure of the club if he wants to remain in charge.
According to ESPN FC, sources have said the delay in making a decision on the future of Wenger, who is out of contract in the summer, has been due to an internal move to try to ease the control he has built up over his two decades in charge.
The Frenchman may be reluctant to loosen his grip on control at Arsenal if he is to stay, having ruled out the possibility of the club hiring a sporting director as long as he remains manager.
Reports say Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick and chief executive Ivan Gazidis have embarked on a project that is looking towards a future after Wenger’s departure as they aim to put together a new structure for the club.
Wenger has been told that Arsenal want to revamp the club’s scouting setup and have a new department that is not controlled solely by the manager.
They are also looking at the possibility of hiring a director of football to take over some of the duties Wenger has assumed since the departure of David Dein from the role of vice-chairman at Arsenal a decade ago.
Wenger has held talks over changes to his coaching staff, with club officials keen to see their manager have less of an overall influence.
