Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is tempted to join a Premier League club after his stint with the La Liga club comes to an end after next season. Arsenal is said to be at the forefront of convincing him to start his new job in London as the Gunners will start preparing for life Arsene Wenger, according to the Daily Mail.
Simeone surprised everyone at Atletico Madrid as he rejected a contract extension to stay with the Colchoneros till 2020 and is going to leave Madrid next season after a highly successful stint with the club putting them on the world map. He also established himself as one of the best managers in the world as his well-drilled defensive side won some top honours in recent seasons.
Arsenal are manoeuvring to secure Simeone’s service from 2018 as Wenger's contract expires at the end of this season but the veteran is expected to sign a one-year extension to keep him at the club. Simeone is said to keep his options open to start his new challenge with the Gunners being the favourite to sign the 46-year-old. The Argentine reportedly rejected Chelsea this summer to stay in Spain with the Blues then agreeing to bring Antonio Conte to Stamford Bridge.
Lack of funds hurting Simeone
Diego Simeone is rumoured to be frustrated with the lack of funds available at Atletico as his side cannot compare to the other European powerhouses because of financial constraints. He was given yet another blow on Thursday as the club accepted they will not sign any players in January while they fight a FIFA transfer ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Arsenal can offer Simeone the funds to sign the world’s best players. The Gunners have spent big in recent years to sign Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka. It is being said the attraction of the Premier League is luring Simeone to accept a job in England as he also wants to compete with the best managers in the world.
Eddie Howe was another name which was rumoured to replace Wenger after he decides to leave Arsenal. Howe has done a brilliant job with Bournemouth but the Arsenal job might be too soon for the young British manager. Simeone's style is completely opposite to Arsenal's philosophy in the Premier League and it will be interesting to see how things shape up in the coming years.
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