Arsene Wenger has rejected a stunning offer from China to make him the highest-paid manager in the world, following his revelation that he has no plans to retire, whether or not he remains at Arsenal.
An unnamed Chinese club were prepared to pay Wenger £30 million ($49 million) a year net, twice the salary of the world's best-paid manager, Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.
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Wenger: I will manage next season
Arsene Wenger says he will manage next season, whether it's at Arsenal or somewhere else.
The offer dwarfs the two-year extension on the table for Wenger to stay at Arsenal, which would increase his pay from £8 million to around £10 million a year, but the Frenchman is not tempted by the prospect of joining the Chinese football revolution.
Wenger has yet to decide whether he will stay at Arsenal past this season, with club insiders growing increasingly anxious that he will walk away. The Frenchman has insisted he is not ready to retire and will be in management next season, which sparked the offer from a club in China.
![Uncertain future: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.](/web/20170301144540im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/m/u/6/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gumu02.png/1488242644885.jpg)
Even if he leaves the Emirates in the summer, Wenger would most likely snub any renewed offer from China in favour of taking a job in one of Europe's top leagues.
Real Madrid, who have tried to recruit him in the past, are thought to be Wenger's preferred destination away from Arsenal.
Meanwhile, former Rangers manager Mark Warburton is a surprise candidate to replace Andries Jonker as the head of Arsenal's academy. Jonker has taken over as Wolfsburg manager and Warburton is high on the list of potential replacements.
Warburton left Rangers in acrimonious circumstances earlier this month, with the 54-year-old denying claims from the club that he had resigned. It is unclear whether Warburton would accept the academy job at Arsenal, but sources inside the Emirates believe he would be perfect for the role, and he has held talks with the club.
![Keeping an eye on developments: Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez.](/web/20170301144540im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/p/a/1/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gumu02.png/1488242644885.jpg)
Should Warburton decide to hold out for a return to management, then Pep Segura, who works in player development at Barcelona, is an alternative candidate. Steve Morrow could also be considered for a promotion from head of scouting for Arsenal's academy.
Jonker has replaced Frenchman Valerien Ismael, who was sacked on Sunday, having previously been assistant manager at Wolfsburg for two years before moving to the Emirates. He has taken with him former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who was coaching the under-15s.
Dutchman Jonker was appointed head of Arsenal's academy in 2014 but, having been given the task of overhauling the club's youth set-up, there was little progress under his stewardship. Sources have claimed for some time that Jonker and Wenger did not see eye to eye on a number of subjects.
Jonker's departure adds to the feeling of uncertainty around Arsenal. The Telegraph reported this month that questions had been raised over whether Arsenal transfer chief Dick Law would still be at the club next season. Arsenal denied claims Law had already decided to leave at the end of this term, but suggestions remain that his long-term future is in doubt.
The Telegraph, London
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