Arsene Wenger's next move: Where will the Arsenal manager be next season?
Last Updated: 17/02/17 4:55pm
Arsene Wenger has insisted that he will still be a manager next season - even if it is not at Arsenal. But where could he go?
Speculation surrounding Wenger's Emirates future at Arsenal continues to dominate the headlines in the aftermath of a Bayern Munich mauling after the Frenchman revealed he would not retire this summer, even if he finally leaves north London.
With the help of Sky Bet, we take a look at some possible destinations for Wenger…
Arsenal (4/6 with Sky Bet)
Wenger's deal is up in the summer but Sky Bet make an extended stay at Arsenal the likeliest outcome as it stands. Speaking on Friday, Wenger defended his record and said his departure would be no guarantee of greater success.
Reports suggest he has a new two-year deal sitting on the table if he decides to stay at the Emirates Stadium. While there is unrest from many supporters and plenty of former Arsenal players saying Wenger should go, there's no real sign of majority shareholder Stan Kroenke losing patience just yet.
Any Chinese Super League club (7/1 with Sky Bet)
Wenger has managed in the Far East before, spending a season with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight before eventually moving to Arsenal.
Could the Frenchman be tempted by the riches of the Chinese Super League and follow the likes of Manuel Pellegrini, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Sven-Göran Eriksson and Felix Magath to the league?
There would certainly be no shortage of clubs looking to tempt him with Wenger's signing a potential major coup.
Serie A (Juventus - 12/1 with Sky Bet, AC Milan - 16/1 Sky Bet)
Taking over at another Premier League club hardly seems appropriate for a man who will forever be associated with Arsenal, but might Serie A be a possibility?
Indeed, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is the bookmakers' favourite to be the Gunners' next manager and, if the Italian did head to the Emirates, the Turin club would surely consider Wenger as a possible successor.
AC Milan, who have struggled for success in recent years, could see Wenger as the ideal candidate to bring silverware back to the San Siro. It's a club with plenty of prestige and history and that could appeal to the Frenchman.
Barcelona (9/1 with Sky Bet)
A bit like Wenger at Arsenal, Luis Enrique's future at Barcelona has been called into question after a Champions League hammering. The Barca manager looks to be edging towards the exit door at the Nou Camp after his side's 4-0 thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain and he is being tipped to leave at the end of the season.
Despite his difficulties at Arsenal, Wenger remains a respected figure in football and has been linked with the Barca job in the past. Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart claimed Wenger was keen to move to the Catalan giants in 2001 but Arsenal blocked the move. Wenger has been backed in from 16/1 to 9/1 to be the next Barca manager so could he now finally get a move to join Lionel Messi and his team-mates?
Ligue 1 (Monaco - 20/1 with Sky Bet, Paris Saint-Germain - 20/1 with Sky Bet)
Could Wenger be tempted into a move back to France? Wenger has not managed in his own country for 23 years, so a return home could prove tempting. It is far from inconceivable that there could be a vacancy at Monaco, the club he managed from 1987 to 1994, winning the league and cup.
Their current boss, Leonardo Jardim, has impressed hugely at the Stade Louis II, taking the team to the top of the Ligue 1 table, and is likely to be in demand in the summer.
PSG have also been long-term admirers of the French manager.
International football (France - 20/1 with Sky Bet, England - 33/1 with Sky Bet)
Time is running out for Wenger if he fancies a crack at a major international tournament. The Frenchman has been touted for a move into international football on a number of occasions before with France and England the two jobs he's been linked with.
However, Didier Deschamps looks secure in the France job for the moment, while Gareth Southgate has just got the England job, ruling out the two of his most obvious destinations, but plenty of other national associations would want him at the helm.
Would Wenger want a move into international football? Former Arsenal striker and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry has previously said he is not so sure.
"What I love about Arsene is he loves being on the field on a daily basis and if you're a coach of a national team you're not out there on a daily basis," Henry told Sky Sports News HQ when Wenger was linked with the England job following Roy Hodgson's departure after Euro 2016. "That's why I don't see that happening, but who knows?"
Where will Arsene Wenger be manager on 31st August 2017?
Sky Bet odds at February 17: Arsenal 4/6, No Managerial Position 11/4, Any Chinese Super League Club 7/1, Barcelona 9/1, Any MLS Team 12/1, Marseille 14/1, AC Milan 16/1, Lyon 16/1, France National Team 20/1, Monaco 20/1, PSG 20/1, England National Team 33/1.
