Andrea Berta has been extremely busy this summer.
The new Arsenal sporting director has already brought six players to the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres have been signed by the Gunners as Mikel Arteta’s squad for the 2025/26 season takes shape.
The north Londoners play their last pre-season friendly against Athletic Club on Saturday before competitive football returns next weekend. Arsenal make the trip to Manchester United on Sunday, August 17 and the game at Old Trafford is a decent opportunity for Arteta and his squad to lay down a marker at the start of the campaign.
It’s not just transfers, either, where Berta has been earning his keep. Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly have signed contract extensions and Ethan Nwaneri penned a new deal at the club on Friday.
The 18-year-old’s new deal runs for five years, expiring in 2030, football.london understands and puts an end to speculation linking the Hale Ender with an exit. Like Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri has received a considerable wage increase, putting him in line with many of his senior teammates.
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The work is not done there, though, for Berta with the transfer window not closing until 7pm on September 1. The club have received fees for Marquinhos and Nuno Tavares already but there were, in truth, minimal. Elsewhere, Jorginho, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu left the club for nothing.
Berta’s priority must now turn to further sales, with a number of players somewhat surplus to requirements at the minute. A number of fringe stars can move on this summer, with Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson all linked with a move away.
Vieira is in talks over a potential move to Stuttgart, while Fulham are keen on signing Nelson, believed to be a loan move despite Arsenal hoping for a more permanent solution. Karl Hein, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are a further three players who could well leave if a decent offer is made.
Berta must try get as much money as possible for any player who leaves Arsenal this summer, especially as the club have paid out quite a bit on new signings. It may well be that players are not moved on until the end of the window, but it’s crucial they are moved on one way or another otherwise their value will decrease in the months ahead.
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