Both Everton and Crystal Palace have been alerted to the potential availability of Arsenal’s Jason Ayto, TBR Football can exclusively reveal.
Ayto originally arrived at Arsenal as a scout in 2014 but he has slowly been given more and more responsibility to the point where he has been operating as Arsenal’s interim sporting director after Edu Gaspar’s departure last year.
In fact, Ayto was considered for the position permanently before Arsenal opted to bring in former Atletico Madrid decision-maker Andrea Berta – favouring the Italian owing to his experience and strong standing in Europe.
That being said, Arsenal don’t want to lose Ayto by any means and the club are now in talks with the 40-year-old about his role moving forward.
Everton and Crystal Palace alerted to Jason Ayto’s situation at Arsenal
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Arsenal are aware of interest in Ayto from the continent.
It is believed that a number of Premier League clubs have been alerted to Ayto’s potential availability, including Everton and Crystal Palace – but they are not alone.
READ MORE: Andrea Berta has already told Arsenal that he’s keen to sign £63m striker
Kevin Thelwell is set to leave Everton in the summer, and well-regarded Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman will also begin a new challenge in Saudi Arabia.
It’s understood that Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers could also hold an interest in Ayto ahead of their American takeover.
Therefore, Arsenal are in discussions to keep Ayto and they have not ruled out promoting him from his former assistant role into a new position under Berta – who has confirmed that he wants his new colleague to stay.
Tim Lewis, Richard Garlick and Mikel Arteta want Ayto to remain as well, and that recommendation has been approved by Josh Kroenke.
Mikel Arteta has already given his Jason Ayto verdict
Speaking in November of last year, Arteta said that Ayto’s work had been ‘phenomenal’ at Arsenal – an underappreciated contributor to Arsenal’s success.
The Arsenal manager seemingly referenced how Ayto had progressed from his role as the club’s chief scout in recent years, a man with a growing reputation.
READ MORE: Andrea Berta immediately targeting contract renewals for three key players at Arsenal
Arteta said: “Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal.
“It is not easy to wake up one day and have to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team.
“But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to [say]: ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward’, with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm, that’s something great. Jason has been great on that.”
Arsenal are working hard to find a striker to sign in the summer right now, and those efforts would be a lot more challenging were they to lose Ayto in the near future.
