Ralf Rangnick Reportedly Among Arsene Wenger Replacement Shortlist Candidates

Arsenal reportedly have Ralf Rangnick on the shortlist of candidates to replace Arsene Wenger as manager this summer, per Sky Sports News. 

RB Leipzig sporting director Rangnick reportedly has his supporters at the Emirates Stadium, including Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, who will be part of the process to interview potential replacements "later this week."

Rangnick's other admirers include Jens Lehmann, the goalkeeper who won a Premier League title and FA Cup under Wenger and joined the Frenchman's coaching staff last summer.

Meanwhile, Gunners skipper Per Mertesacker, who is set to retire at the end of the season before taking over the club's academy, made his playing debut under Rangnick at Hannover 96, per the report.

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Rangnick, 59, has been named as an influence by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel. His work also includes stops at Bundesliga sides Hoffenheim, Schalke 04 and Vfb Stuttgart.

More recently, he has worked with Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls.

Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol quoted an unnamed source endorsing Rangnick's credentials to succeed Wenger, who announced his decision to step down on Friday:

Rangnick's description of his football philosophy hints at the attacking style he would bring to all areas of the Arsenal team should he take over: "It's aggressive forward defending and pressing. Playing in private possession and directly to the front. Lateral and back passes are rather not so much in demand. The aim is to develop teams, no soloists."

The report also noted how Rangnick has a history of building around younger players. Wenger did the same for most of his 22 years in charge.

However, not everybody is convinced coaxing Rangnick from the director's box back to the dugout would be a good idea for the Gunners.

Sport Witness pointed out this isn't the first time noises have been made linking Rangnick to prominent managerial vacancies:

Meanwhile, Football.London editor Greg Johnson thinks Arsenal would merely be causing congestion among their growing list of decision-makers:

There is something to this line of thinking since Mislintat will join chief executive Ivan Gazidis and head of football operations Raul Sanllehi to make the call on who succeeds Wenger.

All three appear to favour a different choice, though.

Gazidis wants former player Mikel Arteta to return, per another report from Sky Sports News, with Sanllehi keen on ex-Barcelona chief Luis Enrique, and Mislintat interested in Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann or Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco.

One other possible candidate who could be available is Leonardo Jardim, with Goal's Chris Wheatley naming the AS Monaco manager as an option.

Monaco are said to be considering replacing the 43-year-old, per Radio Continental's Sebastian Srur (h/t ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson):

Johnson believes Jardim, who took Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2017, would be a worthy successor for Wenger:

Whoever is chosen to replace the outgoing Frenchman faces a tough task to fortify the defence in an unbalanced squad while maintaining the attractive football Wenger imprinted on the club.

The bigger challenge will be combining these things with being able to compete against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea despite having fewer resources.