Zeljko Buvac contender for Arsenal job — but will have to work on Europa League budget

ZELJKO BUVAC is a serious contender for Arsenal — to work on a Europa League budget.

The Liverpool No 2, who last week took a leave of absence from Anfield for personal reasons, has been targeted ahead of a big-name boss.

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION: Zeljko Buvac has been told he will have to work on a Europa League-level budget at Arsenal

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS: Buvac, right, was Jurgen Klopp’s right-hand man at Dortmund and Liverpool but has taken a leave of absence from Melwood

And Gunners chiefs have already sounded out whether Buvac would be interested in the role.

But he is also on a shortlist at Borussia Dortmund, where he spent seven years as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant before following the German to Merseyside back in October 2015.

The terms on which Buvac, 56, is being considering are to work on much reduced finances compared to Champions League teams.

Arsenal’s failure to beat Atletico Madrid in their Europa League semi-final ruled out a return to Europe’s elite, meaning restricted cash for the new manager.

That has given Buvac an edge over former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who will demand monster £15million-a-year wages — not to mention mega-money to revamp Wenger’s squad.

Arsenal’s top brass have started the process of replacing Wenger after his 22 years in charge.

Now they want a coach to train players on the pitches of London Colney rather than an all-powerful manager in the mould of Wenger.

And they are happy to look at candidates not currently No 1’s.

GETTY – CONTRIBUTOR: Arsene Wenger will take charge of his last match at the Emirates with a fanfare sendoff

GETTY – CONTRIBUTOR: Luis Enrique reportedly wants a huge salary to manage Arsenal

Added to that, Gunners’ head of recruitment Sven Mislintat knows Buvac well from their time together at Dortmund — putting the man known as “The Brain” behind Klopp’s success firmly in the running.

Buvac’s only experience as manager has been three years with Neukirchen in Germany’s lower leagues but had success at Dortmund.

Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said he would be “bold in the appointment and get the person we believe is right” — following the masterstroke of unknown Wenger’s appointment back in 1996.

The next manager could, though, face a humiliating pre-season if Wenger’s final three matches fall flat.

Today’s Emirates visitors Burnley are just three points behind the Gunners — and could pip them into sixth.

That would mean Arsenal playing a Europa League qualifier and scrapping their lucrative pre-season Far East tour to Singapore.