The German national team are looking at Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker to replace Oliver Bierhoff as their managing director, according to a report.

Sky Sport in Germany report that Per Mertesacker is one of two serious candidates being looked at for the DFB’s new setup, along with Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Hitzlersperger would be the replacement for Bierhoff with the senior side, whilst Mertesacker would be focused on developing young talent.

In essence, Bierhoff’s job would be split between the two men to share the former managing director’s responsibilities.

Mertesacker currently has a similar role at Arsenal, overseeing the academy with the Gunners. He’s been a popular appointment at the club, representing Arsenal’s values well in public appearances and also in shaping the academy strategy at the club.

Arsenal continue to produce top talent and develop them well for first-team integration, though we’ll likely only know the extent of Mertesacker’s impact on the academy in the years to come, given youth football is a long-term game.

The club will certainly be keen not to lose Mertesacker, but he has a history with the German national team.

A World Cup winner with Germany, the 38-year-old may wish to return and help his old national side through their current difficulties.

Since that 2014 World Cup win, Germany have undoubtedly regressed.

From their 2016 Euros semi-final elimination to a 2020 round-of-16 exit, and group-stage exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, they’ve had little to celebrate.

The DFB will surely do their best to try and convince Mertesacker he can help turn that slump around, but Arsenal will hope to retain him alongside the recently-promoted Edu Gaspar.