Championship club 'preparing' to offer role for Arsenal coach, other rivals also interested

Norwich City are reportedly 'preparing' to swoop for Mikel Arteta's assistant coach Carlos Cuesta. The Canaries, who are challenging for promotion to the Premier League, are looking to offer the Arsenal number two the role as their first team manager at the end of the season.

Reports this week suggest that current boss David Wagner's days could be numbered after a mixed 2023/24 campaign. Norwich are currently seventh in the Championship table, level on 48 points with sixth-place Coventry, but behind only on goal difference.

The battle for a spot in the play-offs is fierce this season, as Hull City and Preston are also sat on 48 points, with Sunderland rounding off the top 10 with 47. The Canaries cannot afford to drop points or they risk completely missing their chance at returning to the Premier League next season.

Despite their change in form under Wagner, Norwich are still considering fresh blood at the hilt, but the German's role is not thought to be under immediate threat.

Ben Knapper, the club's sporting director, was also previously the loans manager at Arsenal before he made the switch to Carrow Road back in November. His former colleague Cuesta is now at the top of the list for Norwich but other Championship teams are also said to be keeping tabs on him as we enter the final months of the season and clubs prepare for their own reshuffles.

Cuesta formerly worked with Atlético Madrid and Juventus as assistant coach to both U17 sides, before joining Arteta at the Emirates in 2020. The report linking Cuesta to Norwich suggests the 28-year-old is 'open' to the prospect of being reunited with Knapper, should Wagner's position actually become available at the end of the season.

However, Arsenal 'intend to fend off' any advances made by Norwich in order to keep the Spaniard at the club.