Arsenal in Advanced Talks to Hire Napoli's Scouting Chief Maurizio Micheli
Arsenal is in advanced negotiations to appoint Maurizio Micheli, the head of scouting at Napoli, to a prominent recruitment role.
If finalized, this move would represent a significant acquisition for the London club. Micheli is credited with identifying several key players, including Marek Hamsik, Kim Min-jae, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and is reportedly finalizing his transition to the Emirates Stadium.
The Premier League club has experienced substantial internal changes over the past year, particularly following the departures of sporting director Edu and his assistant Jason Ayto.
In April, Andrea Berta was appointed as the club's new sporting director and is actively involved in reshaping the recruitment department.
Berta has identified the 57-year-old Micheli as a crucial addition to his team, and discussions regarding the appointment are believed to be underway.
Micheli has held various scouting positions across Serie A, including roles at Bologna and Brescia. He initially joined Napoli in 2010 as chief scout before moving to Hellas Verona in 2015 as head of scouting. He returned to Napoli in 2018, where he has continued to excel.
It remains unclear how extensive Micheli's responsibilities would be if he accepts the position at Arsenal.
Earlier this year, long-serving executive James Ellis was promoted to the role of technical director.
In recent years, Micheli has established a reputation as one of the leading talent scouts in Italian football. In addition to Hamsik, Min-jae, and Kvaratskhelia, he has also been credited with discovering former Ghana internationals Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan during his tenure at Udinese.