Ololade Adeyanju/
Liverpool assistant manager, Zeljko Buvac, has emerged as a shock contender to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager.
Buvac, who has been dubbed Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp’s “brain”, walked away from Anfield on Monday for what has been described by the club as “personal reasons”.
However, Klopp’s trusted assistant has been linked with the managerial vacancy at the Emirates Stadium with sources close to the 56-year-old suggesting the move is on.
Bosnian outlet Pravda BL suggests Buvac “has arranged everything with Arsenal” to fill the void left by Wenger.
Jose Mourinho’s assistant, Rui Faria, has also been mentioned as potential candidate to replace Wenger.
Faria appears on a 14-strong shortlist compiled by the Gunners as they search for Wenger’s successor, according to The Sun.
Portuguese coach Faria, 42, has worked alongside Mourinho since 2001, initially as a fitness coach at Uniao Leiria and Porto, then as assistant manager at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Buvac, who is from Bosnia, is now keen to become a manager or take up a senior role within Arsenal’s new coaching hierarchy.
Buvac and Arsenal head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, worked together at Borussia Dortmund during Klopp’s time at the Bundesliga outfit.
Mislinat was promoted to chief scout under Klopp before leaving for Arsenal on December 1, 2017.
Klopp had previously referred to Buvac as a “brother in spirit”; they have been side by side for nearly three decades.
Current Juventus boss, Massimiliano Allegri remains favourite to replace Wenger, who is stepping down at the end of the season after 22 years in the job.
Other candidates include the former Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique; experienced Italian boss, Carlo Ancelotti and former Gunners player, Mikel Arteta.
Arteta is currently part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching team at Manchester City.
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