Liverpool assistant manager Zeljko Buvac has emerged as a contender for the Arsenal job after reports in his native Bosnia claimed he was set to succeed Arsene Wenger.

Bookmakers across the board have also reported major money coming for him and he is now rated at just 7/2 for the role, having been more than 100/1 in the places that listed him – which was very few.

This coincides with reports over the weekend that Buvac had quit his role as Jurgen Klopp’s number two, due to personal reasons – although Liverpool have since insisted he was just “taking a break” from his duties.

When asked whether Buvac was Arsenal bound Klopp refused to be drawn on the speculation, and said: “We gave a club statement on that and that’s all we’re saying at the moment.”

Buvac, known as ‘The Brains’, has previously spent 17-years alongside Klopp – working at Borussia Dortmund and now Liverpool, but now it seems he could be on the move.

I understand that Arsenal’s head of recruitment Sven Mislintat – who is running the football side of the club along with former Barcelona director Raul Sanllehi – is a huge fan of Buvac and is the one pushing to consider him.

Mislintat and Sanllehi are working closely together, and they have compiled Arsenal’s list of targets which include Luis Enrique, Max Allegri and Julian Nagelsmann.

Now it remains to be seen if Buvac’s absence from Liverpool is down to the links with Arsenal, or not – but the Bookmakers are convinced.

“Paddy Power have been forced to more than halve Buvac’s odds again, as the money on him becoming Arsenal manager piles up quicker than Wenger Out banners at The Emirates,” said spokesman Paddy Power.

“We all know that Arsene Wenger had a philosophy at Arsenal, so it’s appropriate that a man known as ‘the brains’ is linked with succeeding him.

“This would be very bold, though – and distinctly un-Arsenal like – but we can’t ignore what our punters are telling us.”