According to a report from Brazil, Edu is already advising Arsenal on their transfer targets this summer ahead of his own move to the club.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal's Sylvain Wiltord (L) jumps on teammate Edu (R) after he scored the opening goal against Grimsby Town's in The Worthington Cup 4th round match at Highbury in London 27 November 2001. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Sylvain Wiltord (L) jumps on teammate Edu (R) after he scored the opening goal against Grimsby Town’s in The Worthington Cup 4th round match at Highbury in London 27 November 2001. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS

UOL writes that, “Although he avoids the matter and does not officially announce his departure from the Brazilian national team until after the Copa America, Edu Gaspar is already starting to work on his future position.

“Chosen as a football executive for Arsenal (England) for next season, the CBF coordinator divides his time between Tite’s team and the European team.

“With an eye on the new role, he is already involved in managing the club where he was also a player in the last decade.”

While there has been no official confirmation of Edu’s arrival as our new Director of Football it is widely expected to happen when the Copa America wraps up in July.

Edu is under contract with the Brazil Football Federation and has a release clause of around £1.6m. Reports earlier in June claimed the federation would waive that fee should he opt to move to London, a change from their stance earlier in the summer when they basically said ‘bugger off’.

Arsenal have been looking for a replacement since it was announced that Sven Mislintat would be leaving way back in February. The German is now long gone and installed at a new club but Arsenal have continued to look around.

Edu has been long-linked with the role but was initially reluctant to leave his job with the Brazil national team. Now, however, he will reportedly do exactly that to return to Arsenal.

He will arrive in London after the Copa America finishes on 7 July.

Back in April, it was claimed that the club had made a decision about Edu but this report from Brazil seemed to make things a bit more concrete.

It says [via Google translate], “Brazilian national team coordinator Edu Gaspar accepted the invitation from Arsenal to direct the club’s football that he defended successfully for five seasons. Shortly after the Copa América had taken the way to London.

“Both he and technician Tite work for Duílio Monteiro Alves to take his place at CBF, with salaries of R $ 200 thousand. It remains to be seen whether Marco Polo Del Nero will let Rogério Caboclo accept.”

It is believed that Gabriel Martinelli will be Edu’s first ‘signing’ for the club.