Next Arsenal manager: Mikel Arteta wants job as he plans his backroom staff

The Spaniard is emerging as the likeliest successor to Arsene Wenger with Max Allegri now looking set to stay at Juventus

Max Allegri has publicly indicated he will stay at Juventus, likely leaving the way clear for Mikel Arteta to succeed Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. There is still a sense of the Premier League club testing the waters elsewhere as they make one of the most important decisions in their history, but those close to the situation feel circumstances are currently falling so Arteta is the likeliest to be the next coach.

It is understood the Manchester City assistant greatly wants the job, to the point he has already thought up plans for his backroom staff.

Allegri is for his part said to still be tempted by Arsenal, but on Sunday night told media after his latest Serie A title win "if they don’t fire me, I see myself as staying at Juventus next year too." Although those comments came amid the jubilation of victory, sources have told The Independent that success - and the potential of future success - weighs heavily on the Italian coach’s thinking.

Allegri hasn't yet completely made up his mind about next season, but a key part of this is he feels he can still win the Champions League with Juventus - and wants an agreement they will further invest in the squad - with that in stark contrast to the work that needs to be done at Arsenal.

The 50-year-old believes the team left by Wenger needs significant work to compete at the top again, and one issue is that Arsenal are likely to only have a transfer budget of around £60m, although that is set to be augmented by player sales. Aaron Ramsey’s contract running out next year could well mean the club look to sell him, since there is currently no sign of the midfielder signing a new deal. Still, Arsenal's next manager could well come down to the level of backing Juventus are willing to give Allegri.

The Italian is also said to have some concerns about the new structure at Arsenal, since he wants more control than he has at Juventus, but the English club are actually looking to dilute the power of the manager.

Allegri won the Italian title again on Sunday evening (AFP)

Having already implemented a hugely modern staff structure, with multiple appointments including the influential Sven Mislintat, CEO Ivan Gazidis thereby wants a Wenger successor that is more of a coach than a manager. This is another reason why Arteta would fit the requirements, with his club history only enhancing his suitability, although Arsenal might look to have an experienced assistant alongside him. Some around the club have felt this is one reason for the links to Željko Buvač, with Mislintat having worked with him before at Borussia Dortmund.

It is set to be a summer of huge change among Arsenal’s backroom staff anyway, although Steve Bould and Jens Lehmann are being offered roles pending the approval of the new manager.

Pep Guardiola will not stand in the way of his assistant going to Arsenal (Getty ) (Getty)

Luis Enrique’s demands of around £15m a year are also considered too high, and Arsenal are quite specific about their requirements, in that they want a modern coach but obviously someone with an exciting buzz about them that fans would react positively to. It is felt Arteta would fit this due to his playing time at Arsenal, even though there is still a school of thought they should go for new experience at such a key time.

Mislintat had been hugely keen on Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann, but the German is resolute about staying at the Bundesliga club for another year.