Arsenal blow as Ajax stop Overmars from joining as new technical director
The Dutch club will not be enticed by any compensation offer following a huge profit Overmars made on the sales of their biggest stars
AJAX will not let Marc Overmars leave to take up the director of football position at Arsenal, according to reports.
But the Gunners are expected to offer the role to Roma's Monchi - Unai Emery's former colleague at Sevilla.
Arsenal are desperate to appoint a new director of football immediately following the departure of head of recruitment Sven Mislintat.
Overmars and Monchi topped the Gunners' wish-list, but report that Ajax threw a spanner in their plans to bring the 45-year-old Dutchman back to London.
The Amsterdam club do not want to part ways with their transfer supremo - who won the Premier League title with Arsenal in the 1997/98 season - and will reportedly reject any compensation offer from the Emirates.
Ajax do not need money thanks to the £200m profit Overmars made on selling young stars he had brought into the club, including Frenkie De Jong and Davinson Sanchez.
And Overmars is rather unlikely to force his move through considering his legendary status at the club.
Arsenal are now expected to turn to Monchi who, alongside current Gunners boss Emery, oversaw Sevilla's Europa League treble between 2014 and 2016.
Monchi was responsible for the Andalusian club's scouting network revamp and the development of the club's youth system following their relegation in 2000.
He also helped discover the talents of Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos or Jose Antonio Reyes, among others.
Monchi, now working for Roma, has a £1million release clause in his contract and is expected to accept Arsenal's offer and join in the summer.
The Gunners would therefore beat Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, who reportedly were also in the the race for his signature.