Arsene Wenger considering Vissel Kobe offer after being given chance to return to management in Japan

Former Arsenal manager is considering a return to Japan 23 years since managing Nagoya Grampus Eight

Arsene Wenger is considering a return to management with Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

The wealthy J1 League club are desperate to recruit Wenger and club officials flew to Europe to meet him last week.

Wenger was offered a lucrative salary to take over at the club. He is now mulling over the decision, for what might be his last chance to manage again before he retires.

Vissel Kobe are the highest-profile team in Japan’s newly-rich J1 League. They are owned by Japanese tech giant Rakuten - the sponsors of FC Barcelona - and they have funded the signings of Barca and Spain legends Andres Iniesta and David Villa. Lukas Podolski also plays for Vissel Kobe and three months ago they signed Barcelona’s 24-year-old midfielder Sergi Samper.

But despite this spending Vissel Kobe have had a poor start to the season, with just 10 points from their first 12 J1 games. They are currently outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Wenger has been out of work for more than one year now, since he stepped aside as Arsenal manager last May.

But this offer may appeal to Wenger’s long-standing love of Japan, as he coached Nagoya Grampus Eight in the mid-1990s before joining Arsenal.