Arsenal could have just been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
While the Gunners aren’t actively pursuing the Argentine boss, it’s understood he is highly-rated in the Emirates corridors and is viewed as one of the main candidates to succeed Arsene Wenger when he finally retires.
As Simeone is La Liga’s highest-paid manager – higher than Real’s Zinedine Zidane or Barcelona’s Luis Enrique – it would take a huge fee for Arsenal to bring him to North London under normal circumstances, but all that has changed.
The Atleti coach has agreed a rare ‘contract reduction’ which will bring the end of his tenure forward by two years, reports AS. Instead of leaving in 2020, he will now be free to go by 2018.
Should Arsenal want him before that, it’s just become a lot cheaper, as there will be less of his contract to pay out.
While Simeone is an attractive prospect to replace Wenger because of his success in the Spanish capital, his style of play might irk some fans. Atleti have won La Liga under his leadership, and he has also guided them to two Champions League finals, losing to Real each time. Arsenal would probably have to adopt a far more direct brand of football if he arrived, and the Emirates faithful may realise what they have taken for granted under Wenger all these years.
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