Luis Enrique

6/1 Luis Enrique 'would love Arsenal job', says Guillem Balague

Football

Fri April 20, 2018 · 8y ago

Guillem Balague believes Luis Enrique would love to take the Arsenal job after Arsene Wenger announced he will depart in the summer.

Wenger, 68, will leave a year before his existing contract was due to expire having led the club to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during a 22-year reign.

Enrique, who left Barcelona last season, has been on sabbatical for a year, and though Balague says the Spaniard has rejected several approaches, he would love to take the Arsenal job - and he is in the running at 6/1 with Sky Bet.

Sky Sports' Spanish expert Balague said: "I tell you what Arsenal needs, it's Luis Enrique. Would he fancy it? He would absolutely love it.

"Why? Because after a year sabbatical he is ready to come back, he has had all kinds of offers. PSG were certainly one of them.

"He has had contacts from Italy, too, but I do believe that Arsenal have not made a step yet to negotiate. Luis Enrique is available, and he has left himself available because he wants to get the right job.

Under-pressure Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

"He doesn't have an agent, you have to deal with him directly. Arsenal had far too much respect for Wenger to start negotiations with anybody, so what you have now is a list of candidates created by the media, but nothing confirmed by anybody.

"Now is a good time, because he feels the targets have not been met this season, and a good time to start looking for his replacements.

"Luis Enrique loves the Premier League, always loved playing in England, and sees things in England that he didn't see in Spain; the relationship with the fans and how the fans relate to the game."