Dan Ashworth has emerged as a possible target for Arsenal's vacant sporting director post.
This is mainly due to his good relationship with Arsenal manager Richard Garlick, and his sudden availability after leaving Manchester United.
The pair worked together at West Brom until Ashworth joined the Football Association in 2012 and have maintained a friendship ever since.
Ashworth leaves United confirmed on Sunday, has seen his name added to the list of candidates for Edu's place at the Emirates.
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Ashworth has left his role as sporting director at Manchester United after just five months at the club
However, it is premature to see Ashworth as the starter in a process that the club is taking the time to consider and implement.
Former Edu No. 2 Jason Ayto has stepped down as interim sports director and is also seen as a candidate for the full-time position.
Outgoing Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe is another name in the frame, given his good relationship with manager Mikel Arteta.
Sky Sports News already reported that PSG's Luis Campos is another name being considered.
Arsenal are looking for a new sporting director after Edu's departure
Arsenal are in no rush to sign someone before the upcoming January transfer window and are more likely to have someone in place for next summer.
The club is considering their medium and long term strategy and who, therefore, would be suitable for the club and the job of leading them forward.
Edu stepped down as sporting director in November to take up a role in charge of Evangelos Marinakis' group of clubs, which includes Nottingham Forest.
Why didn't it work out for Ashworth at Man Utd?
Sky Sports News' Melissa Reddy speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast:
“I was told by the head of the club (Man Utd) that Ashworth is too passive compared to the others.
“He was not taking control of his department and the areas under his jurisdiction, and he was not working as the hierarchy wanted, and as Omar Barada, Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vival did.
“They felt he was the odd one out, not performing the way they expected him to play.
“And then Ashworth feels he was left out of a lot of key decision-making processes.
“Many of the areas he was in charge of, other hands were involved, so he didn't get the chance to put his stamp on it.
“The things he suggested regarding collaboration, and how the culture of the club could be developed, were stopped.
“Even small things like Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been very strong on United being so far behind in terms of recruitment, and particularly analytics in recruitment.
“So when Ashworth would advise getting a really good external audit firm to come and help the club, that would be knocked down, and he's in a position to think, well, you want analytics better, we don't have it now, this can help us in the short term.
“There are conflicting reports, but it is very clear that the relationship, the establishment, the structure was not working.
“Then you have to ask yourself, after pursuing this man so much, and worrying so much about his career, what did you think you were getting? Because the Dan Ashworth who arrived at United is just the Dan Ashworth who has been there. all the other clubs.
“He is a very good organizational leader. He has never claimed to be a transformation guru or at the cutting edge of analytics, but he is very good at connecting things together and at strategizing There are a lot of questions about INEOS' running the club.”
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