Arsenal chairman: CEO Gazidis 'fully committed' despite Milan links

Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick issued a statement on Wednesday denying reports CEO Ivan Gazidis is set to jump ship to AC Milan.

Speculation this week has suggested Gazidis is set to take up a role with the Serie A side, with the Rossoneri expecting the 53-year-old to join as an executive director in September, according to the Evening Standard's Giuseppe Muro.

"We are aware of the speculation surrounding our chief executive Ivan Gazidis," Keswick wrote. "We know he receives many offers from organizations inside and outside the game as he’s a hugely respected figure. He has never accepted any of these opportunities and has never spoken about them publicly.

"He has always been fully committed to taking Arsenal forward and is currently working hard in Singapore with our new head coach Unai Emery as we prepare for the new season."

After Arsene Wenger stepped down from his role as manager following the last term, the Gunners are determined to hold onto Gazidis, who joined Arsenal as chief executive in 2008. Under Gazidis, Arsenal has already funded around £70 million of signings for new manager Unai Emery this window.

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Milan's new owners, meanwhile, are looking to appoint their permanent CEO sooner rather than later. BBC Sport suggests Gazidis is "closely connected" to Paul Singer, who runs Elliot Management, the hedge fund which took control of the San Siro club.