Departing Roma boss Paulo Fonseca has been contacted by Arsenal to discuss a shock switch to the Premier League, Serie A reporter Tancredi Palmeri has told Tuttomercatoweb.
Now this is a story that has come right out of the blue.
The 2020/21 campaign has been a bit of a nightmare for Arsenal – with Friday’s 1-0 home defeat to Everton leaving the Gunners hanging on to a top-half place by their fingernails – but there was never really any suggestion Mikel Arteta could pay with his job.
The rookie Spaniard appeared to have the backing of his Arsenal bosses.
But perhaps not everything is as it seems?
Because, with Fonseca’s Roma contract set to expire in July, Palmeri claims the one-time Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk boss has been lined up to replace Arteta at the Emirates.
“Fonseca will say goodbye at the end of the year and I know he has been contacted by Arsenal,” Palmeri says.
Fonseca has hardly enjoyed a stellar campaign himself, with his Roma side slipping out of contention for the Champions League places following a miserable run of form.
But the 48-year-old’s stellar CV speaks for itself.
During spells in Portugal and Ukraine, Fonseca lifted nine trophies while thrilling supporters with his attacking, free-flowing football. Fabio Capello, the legendary tactician, is an admirer.
Interestingly, Fonseca was also reported to have held talks with Crystal Palace earlier this month (Calciomercato).
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