Arsenal are preparing to appoint a director of football this summer.
TheDaily Mail says Arsenal have begun the search to fill the role, though it remains to be seen if they will appoint a new figurehead before next season.
The new appointment will be expected to play a lead role in ensuring the club assertively complete transfer deals.
The long-running failure to complete earlier contract extensions has highlighted significant flaws in the club's strategy towards renegotiating existing players contracts.
And there is now an acknowledgement behind-the-scenes that the failure to tie their top stars down to new contracts before they enter the final two years of their deals has left them vulnerable.