Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, so what’s on the previous Atletico Madrid chief’s agenda on the Emirates Stadium?
Signal a ahead (no less than one!)
Berta’s most urgent activity can be to strengthen Arsenal’s assault. Their accidents this season have uncovered an absence of depth of their ahead line. The necessity for extra firepower is evident.
Kai Havertz was on monitor for the highest-scoring season of his profession earlier than his knee damage however Arsenal have change into too depending on him. Having offered Eddie Nketiah with out changing him final summer time, and having misplaced Gabriel Jesus to a knee damage too, they’re gentle on numbers in addition to killer high quality.
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The Soccer Saturday panel focus on Andrea Berta becoming a member of Arsenal as a sporting director and what the Italian’s prime priorities needs to be on the Emirates with Mikel Arteta
Can Berta assist Arsenal dealer a deal for one in all their prime targets? Alexander Isak reportedly figures extremely on the membership’s shortlist and there has additionally been curiosity in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. The Gunners cannot afford to attract one other clean this summer time.
Get Zubimendi deal over the road
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Arsenal are closing in on a deal to signal Martin Zubimendi in the summertime
Arsenal had been closing in on a deal to signal Actual Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summertime, Sky Sports activities Information understands – just for current experiences to assert Actual Madrid had been now trying to additionally signal the Spain worldwide.
Zubimendi, 25, is underneath contract at La Actual till the summer time of 2027, however has a £51m launch clause. Arsenal can be hoping their new sporting director, who labored in the identical function within the Spanish capital for 12 years whereas at Atletico Madrid, will be capable of use his expertise and connections to get this switch finalised this summer time.
Tie stars to new contracts
It isn’t nearly getting gamers via the door at Arsenal with key figures like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli all getting into the ultimate two years of their contracts this summer time.
The north London membership may also wish to tie down kids Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri after their gorgeous breakthrough seasons on the Emirates, whereas they should resolve what to do with midfielders Thomas Partey and Jorginho as their contracts expire in the summertime.
Securing the futures of key gamers can be of excessive significance for Berta and Arsenal in order that Mikel Arteta can proceed to construct on the foundations constructed over the previous couple of seasons.
Increase funds via gross sales
There are gamers that have to be moved on too.
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Kieran Tierney is anticipated to re-join Celtic this summer time
Criticism has been labelled at Arsenal previously for not producing sufficient via participant gross sales so Berta can look to have a huge impact on this space.
Kieran Tierney appears poised to affix Celtic, whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have not had the first-team alternatives they’d have appreciated this season and could possibly be two of the names surplus to necessities.
Facilitate a trophy cost
On the crux on the activity dealing with Berta is the necessity to equip Arteta with the instruments to finish Arsenal’s watch for main silverware. Arsenal’s recruitment has been too closely skewed in direction of defensive signings lately. There’s a must rebalance the squad.
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Mikel Arteta displays on his tenure at Arsenal after reaching the landmark of 200 Premier League video games in cost
To take action, he should develop a robust relationship with Arteta. The pair have to be aligned, as Arteta was with Berta’s predecessor, Edu, as they put together to assault their trophy targets subsequent season.
Extremely-rated Berta underneath strain to reside as much as billing at Arsenal
Sky Sports activities’ Peter Smith:
“Andrea Berta arrives from Atletico Madrid with an thrilling status for Arsenal supporters within the switch market. He additionally has a ringing endorsement from these he has performed offers with, praised for his meticulous method but in addition the best way he conducts enterprise.
“The person who signed Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak in discount offers – and offered two of these three on at a considerable revenue – can be anticipated to reside as much as that billing in north London.
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Antoine Griezmann has been an enormous success since Berta first introduced the France ahead to Madrid greater than a decade in the past
“The strain can be on to ship a summer time window which brings an out-and-out No 9 and a midfield refresh to permit Mikel Arteta’s staff to take the ultimate step of their pursuit of the Premier League title.
“Edu, Berta’s predecessor, overhauled the membership with Arteta throughout his five-year spell on the helm. Now, with a gifted younger squad, together with a depth of defensive choices, the ending touches have to be utilized to show Arsenal into champions.
“These lacking items will not be simple to seek out, with the striker market restricted and costly, and rivals additionally looking out for a ball-playing No 6. The latter can be a key place to handle ought to Jorginho and Thomas Partey depart on the finish of their present contracts, as anticipated.
“A back-up in aim for David Raya, with Neto solely on mortgage from Bournemouth, may also be a requirement.
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Miguel Delaney, chief soccer author at The Unbiased, takes a better take a look at Edu’s exit at Arsenal and what it could imply for Mikel Arteta
“There may also be inner contracts to juggle, with star gamers Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes having simply two years on their present phrases by this summer time, and kids Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri pushing to be rewarded for his or her spectacular performances this season.
“A supply who has labored with Berta believes he’ll show to be a shrewd appointment for Arsenal. If he can replicate his title-winning challenge at Atletico with the Gunners, his acquisition could possibly be one in all their finest signings of all.”
Berta’s discount buys at Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann – signed from Actual Sociedad for £24.8m in 2014. Bought to Barcelona in 2019 for £103m. Purchased again in 2021 for £16.5m.
Rodri – signed from Villarreal for £16.5m in 2018 after which offered to Manchester Metropolis in 2019 for £62.5m.
Luis Suarez – signed from Barcelona in 2020 for £5.5m.
Jan Oblak – signed from Benfica in 2014 for £13m.
Marcos Llorente – signed from Actual Madrid in 2019 for £35m.
Kieran Trippier – signed from Tottenham in 2019 for £20m.
Jose Gimenez – signed from Danubio for €995,000
Stefan Savic – signed from Fiorentina for €12m
And he additionally splashed out on…
Joao Felix – signed from Benfica for £113m in 2019.
Julian Alvarez – signed from Man Metropolis for £82m in 2024.
Thomas Lemar – signed from Monaco for £63.2m in 2018.
Diego Costa – signed from Chelsea for £57m in 2017.
