Ousted Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat set for shock switch to Stuttgart

SVEN MISLINTAT is set for a shock return to football as sporting director at Stuttgart. The German, 46, left his role as head of recruitment at the Emirates in February, just 14 months after taking up the position. But just two months later, he looks to be returning to the Bundesliga. Former Aston Villa midfielder […]

SVEN MISLINTAT is set for a shock return to football as sporting director at Stuttgart.

The German, 46, left his role as head of recruitment at the Emirates in February, just 14 months after taking up the position.

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But just two months later, he looks to be returning to the Bundesliga.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is the head of sport at Stuttgart and has reportedly identified Mislintat as his No1 target.

According to Kicker, Mislitat would be primarily responsible for transfers.

Stuttgart are keen to get him in as soon as possible, ideally before the season is over.

The club – which boats World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard in its squad – are at threat of being relegated from Germany’s top flight despite finishing seventh last season.

Mislintat made a name for himself during his time as a scout at Borussia Dortmund.

GUNNER RECOVER

It was there that he brought the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski to the forefront of European football.

But his time at Arsenal did not go according to plan.

He arrived in North London in December 2017 but six months later Arsene Wenger left the club and was soon followed out of the exit door by chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

Eight players were signed under his watch at the Emirates – and almost all of them have been a hit.

Former Dortmund players Aubameyang, Sokratis and Henrikh Mkhitaryan came in, as did young Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Midfielders Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi have excelled, while Bernd Leno has also found his feet as the season has progressed.

The only major flop on the field has been Stephan Lichtsteiner who arrived for free last summer.

Arsenal’s search for a director of football continues, though, after Monchi left Roma to return to Sevilla while Marc Overmars looks likely to stay in his role at Ajax.