Skip to main content

Report: Transfer Ace Sven Mislintat Set to Leave Arsenal Amid Disagreements

Arsenal's head of recruitment Sven Mislintat could be set to leave the London club after only a year, following a breakdown in relationships behind the scenes.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

Arsenal's head of recruitment Sven Mislintat could be set to leave the London club after only a year, following a breakdown in relationships behind the scenes.

Reports in Europe suggest that Mislintat has quickly grown frustrated with the new regime at Arsenal - headed by director of football Raul Sanllehi - as he feels that his opinion is not always respected.

The Independent reports that Bayern Munich are hoping to capitalize on Mislintat's uncertainty by making him a tempting offer to return to Germany and help them overtake his former side Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga. ESPNFC reports that while Bayern may not wind up as Mislintat's next destination, he most certainly is on the outs at the Emirates over disagreements in "organizational structure" and "transfer strategy."

Mislintat was credited with creating one of the most sophisticated talent-spotting networks in world football during his time at Dortmund, helping to bring through talents such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shinji Kagawa and Ousmane Dembele.

It was therefore seen as a major coup in November 2017 when Mislintat was appointed at Arsenal, and he delivered on his reputation by raiding his former club for Aubameyang two months later.

Mislintat also helped to negotiate deals for the likes of Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos last summer following the appointment of Unai Emery.

However, Emery has apparently started to take a more active role in transfers than Mislintat had anticipated. Arsenal's new structure was intended to limit a head coach's control in that respect, to prevent the all-encompassing power which Arsene Wenger possessed.

Arsenal had hoped that Mislintat would be the man to give their squad a shake-up and restore them to the pinnacle of English football, but it looks like that plan may be cut short.