Barcelona have been left ‘stunned’ by Andrea Berta’s determination to get transfers done fast this summer, it has been claimed. The new Arsenal sporting director is desperate to give Mikel Arteta the squad he requires to win the Premier League next season.
The Gunners are on course to finish second for the third season in a row, and Berta is desperate to ensure that Arteta’s team have the best possible chance to go one better next term.
Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as Arsenal’s top target for the centre forward position, while Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak and Victor Osimhen appear as alternatives. The Gunners want to add a No.9, second-choice goalkeeper, central midfielder and wide attacker to their squad.
Joan Garcia, Martin Zubimendi, Nico Williams and Anthony Gordon are several other players that have been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium – and it’s clear that Berta is working hard to get transfers done.
According to The Sun, Berta’s persistence to get deals done quickly has left their European rivals ‘stunned’. That has made Barcelona and other footballing giants recalibrate and rethink their own transfer window strategy.
It’s added that Arsenal have shown ‘aggression and presence’ when it comes to lining up and moving for targets over the past couple of weeks. The Gunners ‘expect to be blown of the water in comparison’.
“We literally couldn’t bring anyone off the bench to help that game in the semi-final of a Champions League,” Wright said on his podcast. That is the only thing that I will point a finger at in respects of the recruitment.
“And this is why I’m hoping that Andrea Berta has got his book out and he’s ready to go. Because we are three or four players away from winning the league and winning the Champions League.”
Although Arsenal are planning for the summer transfer window, their immediate focus is on the Premier League and their remaining two fixtures. First, the Gunners host Newcastle United on Sunday, looking to secure a top-five spot and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Arteta’s men sit second in the table on 68 points from their 36 fixtures, and a win against Newcastle would guarantee their place in Europe’s premier club competition next season. A point would all but confirm it, due to their superior goal difference over fifth-place Aston Villa.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta said on Friday: “It’s been a phenomenal effort from all of them, understanding the circumstances. It’s our last home game, and it’s always a very special occasion.
“It’s our chance to wrap up the Champions League, to put ourselves in a really strong position for the second place, and in a way to say thank you again to all of our supporters for the amazing season.
“They’ve been on every journey, in every ground, making the effort to travel with us everywhere and at home as well. I think it’s one of the best days in the season when you have to just say thank you to them and they can say what they feel as well about the team.”
