ARSENAL will appoint former Liverpool fitness expert Darren Burgess.
Burgess is close to agreeing terms with the Gunners with Arsene Wenger shaking up his backroom staff ahead of the new season.
The highly-rated Australian will report back to the Frenchman but will take charge of medical, fitness, psychology and performance analysis at the club.
He said: “Reaching this decision has been one of the toughest decisions in my professional career.
“When the opportunity came up to return to Port Adelaide I had no hesitation in returning.
“Port Adelaide is like family and once you’ve worked in this environment with so many outstanding people it is very difficult to leave.
“However, the opportunity to return to the English Premier League and work at one of the world’s most successful sporting organisations in Arsenal is an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse.
“I look forward to continue having a relationship with Port Adelaide from afar and thank the entire club for their support and many great memories over two stints.”
Burgess, 43, worked at Anfield for two years between 2010 and 2012 helping the players with their fitness.
Before that, he was in charge of conditioning for the Australia national team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Burgess was at Liverpool under three different managers before quitting when his job changed under Brendan Rodgers, who brought in his own staff from Swansea.
He is currently working back Down Under with Australian rules football club Port Adelaide.
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And Burgess will link up with the Gunners in July before returning to help Adelaide’s championship push.
The Gunners will be hoping Burgess can be a big influence on the players as they begin their pre-season before a crucial season for Wenger.
Arsenal chief exec Ivan Gazidis promised angry Gunners fans there would be changes this summer after they failed to reach the Champions League.
And the pressure is on after Wenger was handed a new two-year deal despite a disappointing season that ended on a high of winning the FA Cup.
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