Lille's new general director Marc Ingla (L) and Lille's sports director Luis Campos (R) take part in a press conference for the presentation of three new players, on February 1, 2017 at the training center of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET (Photo credit should read DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

Lille's new general director Marc Ingla (L) and Lille's sports director Luis Campos (R) take part in a press conference for the presentation of three new players, on February 1, 2017 at the training center of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET (Photo credit should read DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

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Arsenal plans for Edu and Luis Campos revealed

by Ross Kennerley
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Arsenal, Luis Campos

Arsenal plans for Edu and Luis Campos revealed as Gunners seek recruitment expertise in summer transfer window. (Photo credit should read DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

A story gathering momentum quickly on Thursday is the news of Arsenal contacting currently out of work former Lille director of football Luis Campos over the possibility of taking up a role in north London.

The Portuguese has been out of work since December 2020 having left his role in northern France over a change of ownership. That wasn’t without leaving his mark, however, as he facilitated some exceptional transfer dealings at Lille, helping launch the careers of some previously unknown stars.

A prime example would be Nicolas Pepe, who two years on from signing from Angers for £16m was sold to none other than Arsenal for a club-record £72m. Every player sold by Les Dogues was done so with a replacement in mind and the most recent batch of acquisitions have helped steer the club to a first Ligue 1 title in a decade.

Prior to that he did similarly outstanding work at Monaco, with his career as a sporting director earning him status as a transfer guru.

Arsenal plans for Edu and Luis Campos revealed as Gunners seek recruitment expertise in summer transfer window

Talks to assume a role at OGC Nice failed to come to fruition recently which surprisingly prompted Arsenal to get in touch with the 56-year-old. Technical director Edu has regularly spoken about his desire to work with a smaller team of defined roles, and with major squad upheaval in the works and the need for a stable team behind the scenes, the approach was an unexpected one.

However, football.london* have revealed that the discussions taking place are not with a view to removing Edu of his position – despite his involvement in a corruption scandal and some less than favourable transfer dealings thus far – and instead will be in an informal basis. There is competition from Real Madrid, however.

*the report has since changed to state Arsenal have distanced themselves from the claims but are actively seeking to extend their recruitment team, which is a very strange and sudden turnaround, hinting at a number of reasons.

Equally, he would not take up any sporting director role (as previously thought) and would instead ‘liaise with Arsenal’s recruitment team as the Gunners look to find their way back to the top in European football’. In other words, help them source the right targets.

Arsenal’s former head of international recruitment, Francis Cagigao, has yet to be adequately replaced and the recruitment side is also in the process of scouting out new scouts via the aid of a scouting headhunting company. Hardly the operational security desired to launch a full squad overhaul.

What does this move say about the club’s current summer activity? Are they in dire straits and in need of assistance?

Continued…

Next: Are Arsenal in need of Campos' help?

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