Mikel Arteta’s assistant Carlos Cuesta is attracting interest from several Championship clubs (Picture: Getty)
Norwich are preparing to raid Arsenal for Mikel Arteta’s trusted assistant Carlos Cuesta – and the Spaniard is open to the idea of replacing David Wagner in the summer.
Cuesta, formerly the manager of Atletico Madrid and Juventus’ youth academies, followed fellow countryman Arteta to Arsenal in 2020 and has built a reputation as one of the top young coaches on the planet.
The Mallorca-born coach has been widely credited with helping to transform the culture and atmosphere inside the Arsenal dressing room and Norwich’s sporting director, Ben Knapper, is keen to lure the sought-after 28-year-old to Carrow Road.
Knapper was Arsenal’s loans manager from 2019 to 2023 and was blown away by Arteta’s No.2, who he feels is now ready for his first senior role in management despite his tender years, according to The Guardian.
The report indicates that Cuesta open to the prospect of reuniting with Knapper should the opportunity arise to succeed Wagner at the end of the season, though Arsenal intend to fend off Norwich’s advances.
It’s claimed the Canaries are not alone in their interest, with Cuesta believed to be on the radar of several Championship teams.
Arsenal head coach Arteta will be desperate to keep hold of his closest confidantes, who Nuno Tavares showered with praise in 2022’s All or Nothing documentary.
The Spaniard is regarded as one of the top young coaches in world football (Picture: Getty)
‘Carlos can understand the players because he is also young,’ the Arsenal defender, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, said.
‘He helps me get better and better.’
Cuesta speaks six languages and has fostered strong relationships with several members of Arteta’s first-team squad in his role as Arsenal’s individual development coach.
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Arteta has rarely spoken about Cuesta in the media but backed his compatriot to step up in his absence as a suspension meant he was forced to watch on from the stands as Arsenal lost at Aston Villa in December.
Asked if his players would miss him at Villa Park, Arteta joked: ‘Hopefully they will play better, they will be more positive, and I can influence them with my positive mind!
‘We have very experienced coaches; Albert [Stuivenberg], Carlos [Cuesta] and Nico [Jover] will be there next to them, and we’ve done it in the past from home so let’s do it now.’
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