Rangers are said to be interested in Jason Ayto, who has been in charge of the Gunners' scouting since 2021
17:07, 31 Mar 2025
Jason Ayrto watches an Arsenal Women training session(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Rangers are reportedly interested in raiding Arsenal for highly-rated chief Jason Ayto – and have already been told by Mikel Arteta he is 'phenomenal'.
Ayrto, initially recruited as a scout by Arsenal in 2014 before climbing through the ranks, had been acting as their interim sporting director since Edu's surprise departure late last year.
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But they've now appointed Andrea Berta to that position, leaving Ayrto's position up in the air.
Officially he is executive assistant to manager Arteta, but the situation has caught the eye of a number of clubs interested in Ayrto's services.
And TBR say that Rangers, along with Crystal Palace and Everton, are keen on the 40-year-old.
Rangers of course already have technical director Nils Koppen in situ but it's unclear if their incoming American owners Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers' investment group would want their own man in place.
Ayrto however would be a box office appointment and he's not a man Arsenal are keen to lose.
He's been involved with the club in some capacity for more than ten years, gradually taking on more responsibility over time and is viewed as a key contributor by Arteta. He has been in charge of the Gunners' scouting outright since 2021.
Speaking back in November, shortly after Edu's departure was confirmed, the manager said: “Edu and I probably got a lot of the praise, but the work behind it is done by this guy and Jason has been phenomenal.
“It is not easy to wake up one day and have to move to a different office and do a different job, like it was for the team.
“But again, the spirit, how people react, how they are willing to say: ‘Okay, that’s it, that’s the situation, let’s move forward’, with that ambition, and as well with that determination and that enthusiasm. That’s something great. Jason has been great on that.”
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