Former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe is the most likely person to replace Edu at Arsenal. 

The Gunners were shocked in November after Sporting Director Edu announced that he was going to leave the Emirates after four years in charge of Arsenal’s transfer matters.

He was responsible for bringing in several of the Gunners’ top players including Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Gabriel. However, the club is still looking for a replacement.

Several possible new Sporting Directors have been lined up with Chris Wheatley revealing that candidates include the likes of Monaco’s Thiago Scuro, Simon Rolfes from Bayer Leverkusen, and Roberto Olabe, who was most recently with Real Sociedad.

According to Daily Telegraph Football Reporter Sam Dean, Olabe is one of the front-runners for the job with connections to several Arsenal players and transfer targets.

He said on X: “Roberto Olabe, is thought to be among the potential candidates for the Sporting Director position at Arsenal.”

“He brought stars like Alexander Isak, Martin Odegaard, David Silva, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi to Real Sociedad.”

With his connections to Odegaard and Merino, it would make sense for Olabe to join the Gunners. Furthermore, the Gunners have reportedly all but sealed a deal to sign Zubimendi in the summer transfer window.

Olabe could help Arsenal land £115m-rated dream transfer target

Perhaps the most exciting thing about Olabe possibly joining Arsenal, is that he was instrumental in Real Sociedad’s signing of now-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with signing Isak, with Newcastle setting his price at £115m, meaning that it is unlikely that they will be able to afford him in January.

However, there is every chance that the Gunners could move for the Swedish star in the summer transfer window, a task that would be made even easier should they hire Olabe.