---
title: "Arsenal closing in on Barcelona’s sporting director"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2017/11/26/arsenal-closing-barcelonas-sporting-director/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Darby"
section: "Articles"
published: "2017-11-26T10:46:52Z"
modified: "2017-11-26T10:46:52Z"
---

# Arsenal closing in on Barcelona’s sporting director

Arsenal believe they are closing in on a deal that will see Barcelona’s Raul Sanllehi become the club’s new director of football.

The [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5117391/Arsenal-launch-fresh-January-Thomas-Lemar.html) report that the Gunners hope to have the move completed by the time the new year comes around.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of names to take over and replace Dick Law, but they now look like they’re closing in on their man.

![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/877918176.jpg)

The report suggests that senior figures at Barcelona believed Sanllehi would leave the Catalan side to join Manchester City, but it looks like he has opted for London.

Sanllehi has been involved at Barcelona for the last 15 years and played a key role in their success.

Sanllehi was influential in the process of negotiating transfers at Barcelona, with the most eye-catching deal being the one to sign Neymar from Santos, prior to his world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Sanllehi look likely to join Sven Mislintat, who will become the club’s new chief scout after Arsenal agreed a deal to sign him from Borussia Dortmund with the Gunners re-shaping their backroom staff.