Arsenal are lining up a move for former Chelsea staffer Jim Fraser as a replacement for the outgoing James Ellis, according to a report.
Pete O’Rourke reports for Football Insider that Arsenal are lining up a move for former Chelsea academy manager Jim Fraser, as the Gunners search for a new recruitment chief following the departure of James Ellis this week.
O’Rourke adds that Fraser is held in high regard for his 20 years of work at Chelsea, eventually leaving the club in the summer of 2024.
Fraser would presumably work alongside Andrea Berta in planning and executing Arsenal’s intended summer transfer business, just as Ellis had supported Berta prior to his exit.
Football insider Hand of Arsenal broke the news on Friday that Arsenal technical director James Ellis was leaving the club, with James McNicholas of The Athletic confirming the report on Friday evening.
Ellis had only been promoted to the position of technical director seven months ago, and more recently, he’s played a key role in Arsenal’s academy recruitment.
McNicholas credited Ellis with a role in signing Victor Ozhianvuna, Edwin and Holger Quintero, as well as in extending Max Dowman’s contract.
As for why Ellis is leaving, no information is available at this time. There’s speculation that perhaps Arsenal are using Per Mertesacker’s exit as an opportunity to evolve the structure of the club’s hierarchy, and perhaps the pursuit of former Chelsea man Fraser confirms that intention.