Sevilla's Monchi reveals Premier League interest

WE’VE long known about the star player. Then there was the star manager. Now we have a new phenomenon - the star sporting director - and none comes bigger than Sevilla’s Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo - or Monchi. Now the 48-year-old says he has offers to come to the Premier League this summer.

During his 17 years at Sevilla, Monchi has transformed the club from Segunda División side to perennial European contenders.

He has brought through homegrown talents including Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos, Alberto Moreno and Jesus Navas, as well as signing Frederic Kanoute, Ivan Rakitic, Julio Baptiste and Dani Alves for bargain fees.

Monchi is leaving Sevilla this summer, following 17 years at the club, and, unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of suitors for him.

After all, has any other single person in European football achieved such results over such a sustained period of time?

Monchi told Marca: "Roma is the team that has tried hardest to get me. They want me to wait, but there are other offers in France and England, but they're not as complete."

Roma have promised to hand him power over virtually every aspect of the football side of the business, as well as recruitment. He knows the funds he would be given and what would be expected of him.

But there is interest from England - a country that has struggled to come to terms with the concept of the Sporting Director.

Everton were close to securing the Spaniard's services last year, only for Sevilla to convince him to stay for one more season. The Toffees appointed Leicester’s Steve Walsh instead.

Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with him, and so too Arsenal - although would Arsene Wenger be willing to allow such a successful and high-profile figure have a major say at the Emirates?