Report: Arsenal on brink of appointing Monchi following Roma exit

Arsenal are reportedly a step closer to making Monchi their new sporting director after his exit from Roma was confirmed on Friday afternoon.

The Italian side released a statement to announce that the 50-year-old has left the club by mutual consent, a day after manager Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked.

Roma crashed out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage to Porto in midweek and they are struggling domestically, sitting three points adrift of the top four with 12 games to go.

That defeat has brought forward Monchi's exit, which was planned for the end of the season, and The Independent suggests that his Arsenal appointment could now be imminent.

Monchi discovered the likes of Dani Alves, Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos and Jose Antonio Reyes during his spell at Sevilla, while also playing a part in the signings of Cengiz Under, Ante Coric, Justin Kluivert and Nicolo Zaniolo in two years at Roma.

Frederic Massara will take over as the Giallorossi's sporting director.