According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Arsène Wenger is set to leave the club next summer when his current contract runs out – where a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League potentially awaits.

The 66-year-old has been with us for 20 years and despite tireless speculation linking him with international management after England’s disastrous exit from the European Championships, he was keen to – at the very least – see out the remainder of his current deal at the Emirates.

It has been reported that both Champions League winners Real Madrid and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain previously made approaches for his services, and he rejected both sides to remain as Arsenal boss.

Even though contract talks in regards to his own future have not advanced since reports back in June suggested he’d be offered a new three-year deal, you’d expect an extension of some sort would be on the table at the end of the current campaign by the very latest.

And Robert Pires believes that Wenger will stay until the board no longer want him.

HULL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 17: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

Unless Arsenal underperform drastically and finish outside the top four for instance, it’s hard to believe that we won’t see Arsene still at the helm next season.

News on Wenger’s potential successor has continued to accelerate in the past week with Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone confirming he has reduced his current deal short by two years – from 2020 to 2018.

Simeone, widely heralded as one of the world’s top managers, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League and Arsenal themselves have constantly been expected – by both news reports and former players – to approach Simeone about potentially becoming Wenger’s successor in future.

We’ve already looked at why that wouldn’t be a good idea.