Former Arsenal transfer guru Sven Mislintat is set for a return to the big time.

After a failed spell at the London club that saw the Gunners spend £100 million on mostly failed signings in his 18 months, Mislintat had a spell at Stuttgart.

Now the 50-year-old is heading to Ajax, who were unable to recruit Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward.

De Telegraaf reports that Ward was the club's primary target for their sporting director position.

However, he has turned down the Dutch giant's offer and they will instead move for Mislintat.

"Ending the negotiations now is a mutual decision made by everyone involved, but it doesn't change our mutual appreciation for one another," Stuttgart CEO Alex Wehle said after Mislintat's departure.