Arsenal are growing increasingly worried that they could lose some big names, such as Aaron Ramsey, to AC Milan if, as expected, Ivan Gazidis, take charge at the San Siro.

The Gunners chief executive is a very highly rated football administrator in European football, and it is no surprise he has attracted interest from a number of clubs.

Milan tried to land him earlier in the year and now they have returned to open talks with a view to appointing him.

Gazidis has been a target since American investment company Elliott Management took control of the club in July.

It is understood Gazidis is open to the move following the appointments of Barcelona’s Raul Sanllehi as head of relations and Sven Mislintat of Borussia Dortmund as head of recruitment last season.

One issue Arsenal have is that if Gazidis does move, he is more than familiar with the contract situations of a host of players – including Aaron Ramsey, who has less than 12-months left on his current deal and who could sign a pre-contract with another club – like AC Milan – in January.

As well as Ramsey, it believed Milan would also be looking at the likes of Danny Welbeck and Nacho Monreal – who are also out of contract at the end of the season.

Ramsey’s odds on joining Milan have been cut drastically in recent weeks and they are now 2/1 to land him.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “With Ramsey’s contract talks still up in the air, it now looks as though AC Milan may swoop in and make a move at the next available opportunity.”