Arsene Wenger says Patrick Vieira was also in the running for the job at AFC Bournemouth, with Thierry Henry the current front-runner.

As we covered previously, Thierry Henry is currently the front-runner for the manager job at AFC Bournemouth. Bournemouth sacked Jason Tindall after just six months in charge, and they’re currently on the hunt for a new boss.

Former Huddersfield boss David Wagner was also reportedly one of the leading contenders alongside Henry. However, Arsene Wenger claims Henry wasn’t the only one of his former players in the frame, with Patrick Vieira also under consideration at points.

Wenger admitted he was surprised to hear Henry’s name mentioned, given the 43-year-old is still managing Montreal. But he added that the Bournemouth role is a good one for whoever takes it.

“I knew a little bit about Patrick Vieira when he was in the frame, but Thierry Henry, being at Monreal, I didn’t expect him to leave,” Wenger said. “But it’s a good club, Bournemouth, and I think a good test as well for somebody.

“They have good players and they work well, so I think it’s a great platform for a young manager to show that he can do it in England enough to go to the Premier League.”

Bournemouth are in a good position for a positive end to the season, despite the managerial uncertainty.

They sit in sixth, the final play-off place, six points clear of Cardiff City in seventh. It’s worth mentioning that a win for Barnsley in their game in hand would cut that gap to four points. Still, that’s a decent standing with 16 games left.

Bournemouth are unlikely to achieve automatic promotion, but if a new manager could provide a spark to get them going, returning to the Premier League via the playoffs is certainly a possibility.