Arsenal supporters were given some good news on Friday morning after it was announced defender Gabriel Magalhaes had signed a new long-term contract.
The 27-year-old, who had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, has signed a deal with the club that runs until 2029,football.london understands. It is the first big bit of business conducted by new sporting director Andrea Berta and many Gunners fans will be hoping it is the start of a huge summer.
The north Londoners are expected to be extremely busy in the summer transfer window with a back-up goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder, striker and possibly a wide forward all on the agenda. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have been heavily linked with a move to Emirates Stadium, while a deal for Martin Zubimendi is believed to be at an advanced stage.
But after the Gabriel announcement on Friday, what should Berta’s next priority be? football.london’s writers have their say, below!
Sam Truelove
Tying Gabriel down to a new long-term contract is great business for Arsenal. The defender has been immense since joining in 2020 and has formed an unbelievable partnership with William Saliba at the heart of the Gunners backline. Some may argue getting Saliba to pen a new contract, amid links to Real Madrid, should be next on Berta’s agenda but if I were the Italian I would turn my attention to incomings.
Many will likely say a new striker is the number one priority and, of course, signing one should be. My pick would be Gyokeres but I actually think Arsenal have a chance of signing a potentially world-class winger. Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid is far from certain and the Brazilian is set for talks with new manager Xabi Alonso in the coming days.
With the competition for places at the Spanish giants extremely high, Arsenal could look to swoop in for the 24-year-old and offer him the chance of playing regular first team football in the best league in the world. A player of Rodrygo’s calibre really would take the Gunners to the next level but they may have to act quickly to take advantage of the current uncertainty.
Joe Doyle
I think the clear priority is getting a striker through the doors. And that’s been the case for over a year now.
While Kai Havertz has surpassed expectations in a more advanced No.9 role having initially joined as more of a midfielder, it’s obvious he has needed more help and Gabriel Jesus hasn’t provided the necessary goals, regardless of the serious knee injury he suffered last season.
If it’s a straight shootout between Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko then I’d be tempted to go for Gyokeres if I were Arsenal. While he has been putting up numbers in a lower-ranked league to Sesko, he’s also proven he can do it in the Champions League and Europa League in the last two seasons – he can add to the team straight away.
If it’s true that Arsenal are waiting until the start of July to register new players due to accounting practices, that’s all well and good – but they need to get a move on with agreeing a deal and wrapping it up. The sooner a player can arrive and bed in at the club, the better.
If there is a delay, then get William Saliba tied down as soon as possible. Arsenal don’t need a Trent Alexander-Arnold situation of their own developing with Real Madrid, especially for a player as valuable as the Frenchman.
Jack Flintham
Without a centre-forward next season, Arsenal will repeat what happened this year and be the nearly men once again. That in itself should explain what the priority for the Berta should be now.
Like Sam and Joe I would be looking at Gyokeres before going for Sesko. I see the attraction of RB Leipzig’s centre-forward – there is clearly more resale value in him than the Swede.
However, are Arsenal building for the future or are they trying to achieve immediate success? Manchester United this summer are future-proofing because they are so far off where they need to be.
The Gunners are just one step away from getting to where they need to be. For that reason, why shouldn’t they go for a proven goalscorer who, albeit older, could deliver the short-term success needed to take Arsenal to that next level.
Tom Canton
The calls are already loud, Arsenal are too slow and need to pick up the pace. Everyone else is signing players and yet the Gunners are supposedly dragging their heels.
While this is objectively untrue, the next priority, which would certainly help ease the cries for a speedier summer, is the centre-forward. There has been so much talk about both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres that having clarity on who is coming through the door, despite it being understood that the Slovenian is the preference, would certainly ease the jeering.
The deadline for the early business is July 19 when the club fly to Asia for their pre-season tour. If they can get their priority business done by then, the club have acted swiftly and given Mikel Arteta the best chance at integrating his new players.
Lee Wilmot
It’s clear where Arsenal need to strengthen but it’s going to cost them. The reports suggest Benjamin Sesko is the choice at the moment, over Viktor Gyokeres.
But there really ought to be a third choice in the shake-up.
Everything suggests Arsenal are going to have to pay a high price to sign Sesko this summer, with a fee in the region of £92.5million mooted. If you’re going to pay that much for the 22-year-old, why not go a little higher and give Newcastle the £100million they want to sign Alexander Isak.
Isak is the dream signing, the one who has seemed out of the price range or just out of Arsenal’s reach. But why now? If they’re willing to go to near on £100million for Sesko, go and get the 25-year-old who has Premier League experience and for which there is almost no risk whatsoever.
