Arsenal are planning to hold talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Nuno Espirito Santo about succeeding Unai Emery.
The Gunners are preparing to face champions Manchester City on Sunday with club legend Freddie Ljungberg still in temporary charge of the club.
However, two weeks after sacking Unai Emery, the club are finally ready to make a move in getting a replacement.
According to the Daily Mail, talks will be accelerated with Espirito Santo over the coming days. But the club must gain permission from Wolves to speak to the Portuguese before this can take place.
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez, who spent time with both Wigan Athletic and Everton, has also been approached about taking charge at the Emirates.
In total, the club have 12 possible candidates on their managerial shortlist, but it is understood Santo is the name at the top of that list.
Mauricio Pochettino, Mikel Arteta and Patrick Vieira are also rumoured to be in contention, with the club hoping to whittle the names down to just a three-man shortlist.
Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked by Napoli on Tuesday night, was also reportedly in contention to take over in north London.
And former Arsenal and England defender Ashley Cole told talkSPORT he does not feel this would be a ‘step down’ for the Italian, who worked with him at Chelsea during their time at Stamford Bridge.
Asked what the experienced Italian coach would bring to Arsenal, Cole told talkSPORT: “Togetherness.
“I’ve spoken about him a lot, about how good he was on the pitch but also in terms on being a friend and being someone who is not always serious.
“When you go out on the training pitch you have to have a laugh. You have to enjoy what you’re doing and he brought that in training sessions, but then when we went to games he’d also give you that love, that push and the understanding of what I means to win games.
“He’s won so much in his career with Milan as a player and of course as a coach, he’s someone who when he talks everyone listens.
“I think it would be great if he went to Arsenal.”
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