Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is starting to make progress on a select number of transfer targets identified with the aim of strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The Italian has already made quite the impression in his first two months at the club, football.london understands.
How he operates in the transfer market is very different in comparison to how Edu and even Jayson Ayto, who is now set to leave the club, handled business.
On a number of occasions, Arsenal had to pivot away from their main target and while that mostly proved fruitful, it does not always guarantee a positive result, as shown by the late and panicked loan addition of Raheem Sterling last summer.
Berta, on the other hand, is said to enter discussions with multiple different parties at the same and that will allow Arsenal to be flexible when it comes to making the final decision on the players they would like to sign.
Links to Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Rodrygo, Bryan Mbeumo, Nico Williams, Ademola Lookman and Jamie Gittens show that Berta is starting to work his magic with a further update on three of those names provided.
According to Sky Sports Germany, Arsenal are in concrete talks for Sesko with Berta and RB Leipzig managing director Marcel Schafer now said to be in contact. Arteta is a big fan of the Slovenia international and has been for at least 18 months.
The Gunners tried to sign him last summer but he opted to stay in Germany and agree a new contract. Due to his performances, the release clause in that deal has risen to £67 million (€80m).
Alongside bringing in a striker, Arsenal would like to sign a wide forward with Real Madrid star Rodrygo an unlikely name to emerge as a target. Due to a number of factors, he could depart the Spanish capital this summer with Arsenal very much interested.
New discussions for the Brazilian have taken place in recent hours but his wage demands could stop a deal going through. The Gunners would also have to pay in the region of £84m (€100m) for his services.
There are plenty of alternatives however, and while Rodrygo could yet stay at Madrid, Lookman is almost guaranteed to leave Atalanta.
Arteta is a big fan of his versatility and he has been mentioned in an Arsenal transfer update as Berta holds talks with a number of clubs and agents, Sky Sports Germany have revealed.
Though he wants to leave, Atalanta are still demanding £50million (€60m) to sanction an exit with fellow Italian club Juventus and Manchester United also interested in signing him.
Even if Arsenal don’t end up signing any of Sesko, Rodrygo or Lookman, Berta’s methods have seemingly become clear.
