The Daily Mail says Wenger is to be offered a role on the Arsenal board as part of a long-term strategy to keep hold of the most successful manager in the club's history.

In a move which has echoes of the %u2018job for life' promise made by former vice-chairman David Dein, the role has already been discussed tentatively by senior board members at Arsenal.

Although the possibility of Wenger taking a directorship will not prevent him continuing as manager, the club's director and powerbroker Danny Fiszman is exploring ways of appeasing Wenger after another quiet summer in the transfer market.