Arsenal are in no rush to appoint a technical director after beginning a fresh search following Monchi’s decision to re-join Sevilla.

The 50-year-old had become the Gunners top target for the post ever since former midfielder Edu rejected their advances in January.

Monchi was available after leaving Roma in the wake of head coach Eusebio di Francesco’s departure earlier this month but yesterday he confirmed he will return to Sevilla, where he worked with Arsenal boss Unai Emery as part of a 17-year spell which ended in April 2017.

Arsenal are understood to be disappointed but relaxed about his decision, chiefly because they feel their summer transfer plans are already well advanced.

Interestingly, one source claimed this was a reason why Monchi turned the Gunners down.

Petr Cech is set to retire while Danny Welbeck looks certain to leave the club at the end of the current campaign, when Aaron Ramsey will join Juventus on a free transfer.

The Gunners will have around £40million to spend if they fail to qualify for the Champions League with a centre-back among their top summer targets. A goalkeeper may also be required if David Ospina is not retained once returning from a season-long loan at Napoli.

Marc Overmars had been linked with the technical director post but some senior figures at Arsenal did not view him as a serious candidate and in any case, he yesterday signed a new deal with Ajax tying him to the club until 2024.

Long-term Arsenal scout and current head of international recruitment Francis Cagigao is highly thought of at the club and may be among the possible internal options.

However, Sven Mislintat left the Gunners in February after being overlooked for the post with head of football Raul Sanllehi keen to make an external appointment.