Liam Brady wants face-to-face talks with new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni about the possibility of becoming his assistant.
Arsenal's academy director does not want to leave the club but would be prepared to discuss helping out his country on a part-time basis.
"I'd need to talk to Giovanni a bit more. I haven't actually spoken to him face to face," said Brady.
"I don't know what's going to develop until I talk with Mr Trapattoni."
Brady added: "I've only spoken to him over the phone, so I would need to sit down with him face-to-face, find out what he would want from me or what I could do for him and then obviously take it up with Arsenal."
Asked if he could combine a part-time role in Ireland with youth team work at Arsenal, he said: "I don't want to give up my job with Arsenal. I love my job with Arsenal. We need to talk it over obviously."
"I am hopeful Arsene Wenger will let Liam do the job as well as his Arsenal commitment"
Trapattoni is keen on former midfielder Brady, who won 72 caps for the Republic, having managed him at Juventus in the early 1980s.
"I am hopeful Arsene Wenger will let Liam do the job as well as his Arsenal commitment," the 68-year-old Italian said.
"I knew Liam as a player and I asked him if it was possible for him to work with me a bit.
"He speaks good Italian and he knows the players. We can work together but not all the time because Liam has a good job at Arsenal."
Former Italy defender Claudio Gentile was also expected to be part of the backroom staff.
But the 54-year-old, who played alongside Brady under Trapattoni, and was Italy Under-21 boss during his mentor's reign as national coach, has declined the offer.
Brady, 52, encouraged Trapattoni to take the position and the appointment ends a lengthy search following Steve Staunton's departure from the job in October.
Trapattoni has agreed a two-year deal and will leave Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg to take charge for the game against Serbia on 24 May.
The veteran Italian coach won six Serie A titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan. He also led Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg to league titles.
His European honours include the European Cup, three UEFA Cups and a Cup Winners' Cup triumph during his spells at Juventus and Inter.
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