Ivan Gazidis 'wants Massimiliano Allegri to replace Arsene Wenger'

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has reportedly identified Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri as the perfect replacement for Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners have endured another tough season on and off the pitch, having fallen 12 points off the pace in the race for the top four and losing the League Cup final to Manchester City last month.

As a result, Wenger's position as manager has come under intense scrutiny once again - despite an encouraging 2-0 win at AC Milan in the Europa League last week - with many sections of the club's fans calling for him to step aside at the end of the season.

According to the Daily Star, Gazidis has been monitoring Allegri and Juve in recent weeks and has been left impressed by "the strong, collective spirit in the Italian champions' team - something the Gunners have been accused of lacking".

The newspaper claims that Gazidis is planning to sit down with Wenger at the end of the current campaign to "negotiate his exit", despite the Frenchman still having another season remaining on the two-year contract extension he signed last summer, and will then move for Allegri.

Arsenal are also thought to be considering an approach for Hoffenheim's 30-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann should the move for Allegri fall through.