Exclusive: Arsenal working on deal to appoint man who discovered Reece James and Marc Guehi
Arsenal are lining up a move for former Chelsea academy manager Jim Fraser as their new head of recruitment, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners are in the market for a new recruitment chief following the sudden departure of James Ellis earlier this week.
Fraser is highly-regarded having brought through a number of players at Chelsea, including Conor Gallagher, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill.
The 49-year-old spent over 20 years at Chelsea before leaving in the summer of 2024, and he could now be set for a move across London to join the ranks at Arsenal.
Arsenal keen to put Jim Fraser in charge of summer transfer business
Arsenal are already drawing up their list of targets for the upcoming summer transfer window, as they look to further cement their place as one of the Premier League’s strongest sides.
The Gunners are pushing to try and secure a big-money move to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, while they have also positioned themselves as a strong suitor for Leon Goretzka.
They have now identified Fraser as the man to steer their ship as they prepare to navigate the transfer market once again, with the former Cobham chief potentially set to take charge of their summer business.
Mikel Arteta’s side are still pushing for trophies on all four fronts as we enter the final stages of the season, but he will be keen to ensure that his team do not stand still over the summer.
A move for Fraser could have a key say in that, as he would be tasked with ensuring that the boss has all the necessary tools to compete at the top of the table once again next term.
Fraser to be tasked with spending increased Arsenal revenue
Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will be delighted with the increased revenue that has come from this season.
The former boardroom chief expects the Gunners to surpass their revenue from last term by the end of the campaign, as their coffers look set to receive a bumper boost.
Part of that cash influx will undoubtedly be spent trying to nail down some of their key targets to strengthen next season’s squad, and that is where Fraser’s expertise will come into play.
It is vital that budgets are spent sensibly in the Premier League, and Fraser has been identified as a man who could help Arsenal to achieve maximum results with their business.