The football leadership team of Arsenal, led by manager Mikel Arteta, will meet with the owners, the Kroenkes, to outline squad-building plans for 2025, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
Managing director Richard Garlick and vice-chair Tim Lewis will also be part of the meeting, and Jason Ayto is likely to represent the recruitment department in the talks following the departure of sporting director Edu Gaspar.
Ayto was named assistant sporting director at Arsenal last year following a reshaping of the recruitment team, and the former video analyst will step up to replace the Brazilian on an interim basis as the Gunners search for a new sporting director.
He played a key role during the summer transfer window, helping Edu during negotiations.
Ayto speaks Portuguese fluently and is well-regarded in European football circles.
The incoming director of football operations James King, who begins work next Monday, will be supporting the interim sporting director.
Arsenal will be keen to get the best man for the job given how Edu helped turn their fortunes around during the five years he spent with them, and many have tipped Ayto to get the job.
The former midfielder returned to the club to become their first-ever technical director in July 2019 before getting promoted and getting named as their first-ever sporting director in November 2022.
Arsenal are still in search of their first Premier League title since 2004, and whoever succeeds Edu will be desperate to help them go one better following back-to-back second-placed finishes behind Manchester City over the last two campaigns.
The North Londoners could look to bolster their squad when the transfer window reopens in January following a shaky start to 2024-25.
They are currently fifth in the Premier League table after ten games, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, and they need to improve significantly going forward if they are to win the title this term.
