Luis Enrique has confirmed he received a call from a ‘foreign club’, following earlier rumours that Arsenal could be interested in him taking over as their head coach.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 26: Head coach Luis Enrique of FC Barcelona looks on during a training session at FC Barcelona Sports Centre on May 26, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 26: Head coach Luis Enrique during his time with FC Barcelona looks on during a training session at FC Barcelona Sports Centre on May 26, 2017, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Luis Enrique, and earlier this month Spanish journalist Kike Marin reported that Raul Sanllehi wanted the manager to replace Arsene Wenger back in 2018.

As a result, the rumours that Arsenal may have made contact with Enrique again in recent weeks had an element of credibility to them.

Enrique ended up taking his old role as the head coach of the Spanish National Team back up, seemingly ruling himself out of the Arsenal job. However, he then did confirm in a press conference this week that he’d had contact from a ‘foreign club’.

“Yes, I received a call from a foreign club,” Enrique confirmed (via AS). He didn’t name the club in question, but it’s very possible it was Arsenal, and perhaps that would go some way to explaining why the Gunners have stalled on Unai Emery’s future for so long.

Maybe this is giving them too much leeway, but it’s possible Raul Sanllehi was banking on Enrique to take over, and it was only when the 49-year-old decided on Spain that Sanllehi realised he’d have to make alternative arrangements.

On the other hand, it’s just as possible that the Arsenal hierarchy have just been stalling for no reason in the hope that things will improve and they won’t have to make a decision at all.