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LONDON. — Arsene Wenger has held talks with the Japan Football Association about becoming their new boss as he looks to make a return to management, according to reports.

The 68-year-old parted ways with Arsenal at the end of last season, replaced by Spaniard Unai Emery, but has made no secret of his desire to continue coaching. He has been in Russia for the past month for the Soccer World Cup, working as a pundit on French TV and attending games as a VIP guest of FIFA.

However, the trip wasn’t solely to watch football, with Yahoo Japan claiming that the veteran French coach was contacted by the Japanese FA during his time in Russia. Wenger met with Japan chiefs in Moscow and is open to taking charge of the Samurai Blue, though they did not get as far as discussing terms.

Japan have also considered appointing former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann, but Wenger is their preferred choice. The Frenchman knows the language and culture having briefly taken charge of Nagota Grampus Eight in 1995 before moving to Arsenal, where he enjoyed 22 hugely successful seasons. Japan had an underwhelming group stage campaign at the World Cup, going through to the last 16 as runners-up where they lost to Belgium after throwing away a two-goal lead. That gutsy display against the eventual bronze medallists is thought to have gained manager Akira Nishino more favour in his homeland, but the Japan FA would still prefer to bring in Wenger. — Metro.