Ralph Hasenhuttl Comments on Reports He Will Replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal

RB Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed that he is in line to replace Arsene Wenger as Arsenal boss, after the Sun's Phil Cadden reported he had been contacted by the Gunners.

Wenger's contract expires at the end of the season, and Hasenhuttl is one potential option to succeed him should the Frenchman call it a day at the end of 2016-17, per Cadden.

The 49-year-old Leipzig coach confirmed as much on Friday, saying it was no bad thing to be linked with such a position, per Dave Fraser in the Sun.

"It was a well-researched story," Hasenhuttl said. "There was a lot of truth to it. I have heard of worse fates than succeeding the longest-serving manager in England. It's not damaging my reputation, is it? We don't have to put too much thought into [the Arsenal job]. I have found my luck here."

Hasenhuttl's profile has been boosted this season, as he has led Leipzig to the top of the Bundesliga table after 12 games—they sit three points ahead of Bayern Munich having not lost a game.

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Per ESPN FC's Michael Yokhin, the former Austria international "is an astute tactician and an inspirational motivator" and started his coaching career at Bayern's academy in 2002.

As noted by Cadden, Wenger was a relative unknown when he was appointed Gunners boss in 1996 having previously coached at Japan's Nagoya Grampus Eight, so hiring Hasenhuttl to take over from the Frenchman would carry on a successful tradition.

Wenger, 67, has been in charge at Arsenal for more than 20 years, but he has not won a Premier League title since 2004.

It would be little surprise to see him depart as manager of Arsenal at the end of the current campaign, but Cadden suggested he would be offered the chance to stay on to mentor his successor.

That could be the perfect scenario for the club as they contemplate life without Wenger, and Hasenhuttl could be the man to take up the mantle.