Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will nominate his successor when he chooses to stand down. The Sunday Mirror says a possible managerial candidate for Arsenal is likely to be Laurent Blanc, who has transformed the French national squad, which imploded at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He has restored stability and taken them to the verge of qualification for next summer's Euro 2012 finals.

He is also familiar with the demands of English football from his spell as a player with Manchester United and in his two years in management at Bordeaux, he took the club to second place in his first season and then to the league title.

There is also former Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, who has adapted impressively to his new responsibilities at Ajax. Johan Cruyff, the club supremo, has asked Bergkamp to work with manager Frank de Boer.

Bergkamp has been handed responsibility for overhauling the entire technical department and club structure as well as coaching the first team.