Arsenal’s Ivan Gazidis to leave Gunners for AC Milan after ‘agreeing £3.6m-a-year-deal’ to become Italian club’s new chief executive
Man tasked with finding the replacement for Arsene Wenger and steering club through uncertain waters will be earning £1m more than he currently earns in the same role with the Gunners
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IVAN GAZIDIS is on the brink of sealing his switch from Arsenal to AC Milan, according to reports.
After ten years with the Gunners, the 54-year-old is poised to take up a chief executive role with the Italian giants.
is reporting Gazidis will earn around £3.6million-a-year at the San Siro - a £1m rise in what he currently pockets at Arsenal.
A wind of change is sweeping through the Rossoneri off the field after they were taken over by American hedge fund Elliott management in July.
An Arsenal club source told MailOnline: "It is 99.9 per cent certain Ivan will leave.
"It looks like a done deal and it appears the club are preparing a statement."
Gazidis confirmed to the Arsenal board in August that an approach was made to lure him to the Italian club, taken over by his friend Paul Singer.
Even Arsenal head coach Unai Emery, who so impressed the CEO in securing the role as Arsene Wenger’s successor, admitted he was in the dark about Gazidis’s future when he was asked on Thursday.
And it could be a double-whammy for Arsenal, with the chance a player could follow the chief exec to the the Italians too.
Milan believe the South African's presence at the San Siro will boost their hopes of landing Aaron Ramsey.
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The Caerphilly-born ace has won three FA Cups during his time in north London.
He has made 333 appearances, scoring 58 goals for the Gunners.
But he is understood to be tempted by the challenge of playing for one of Italy's biggest and most successful clubs.
And Milan may now test Arsenal's resolve to keep hold of the Welshman by submitting a bid next January rather than waiting until his contract runs out in nine months' time.