Andrea Berta set to overhaul Arsenal transfer policy as Viktor Gyokeres reality emerges

The summer transfer window is very close to opening, the first of two separate windows of course as the FIFA Club World Cup has forced an early period to be opened to allow clubs the chance to bring in new stars quickly to feature in the competition. But this is something open to all clubs.

Mikel Arteta has already said that if the chance arises, they will utilise it. There is an expectation that Martin Zubimendi will join this summer, and perhaps the Spaniard could come in during this early window.

“There is an opportunity, if you can use it to your benefit, do it,” he said. “We are very much aware of that, and we’ll see what we can do.”

Beyond Zubimendi, there are already links to many different players as gradually leaks emerge, as occurs every summer. However, the volume of names being discussed is perhaps already higher than normal.

There is a good explanation behind this increase in player name volume, and it is to do with Arsenal’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta.football.london understands that the Italian has already, after just a couple of months, made a considerable impact at the club.

He has made an impression, and the club are confident they picked the right man to take charge of the team’s recruitment ahead of what is considered the biggest summer transfer window in the club’s history. Berta has been assessing the areas of the squad that the club need to improve and strengthen and with that comes shortlists of names to consider.

Arsenal have needed to pivot to players in the past when their number one picks have perhaps proven unattainable. It has been seen with players like Oleksandr Zinchenko after a failed move for Lisandro Martinez.

It happened again with Jorginho when a move for Moises Caicedo proved too expensive. Leandro Trossard came in after Chelsea agreed to a very expensive move for Mykhailo Mudryk.

Rather than players per se, the club are looking at positions with lists of candidates for each role. There will be preferences certainly but having a readiness across these areas with discussions for different players underway will help aid efficiency when it comes to completing these moves.

A good example is that Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have all already been mentioned among potential striker options. Unsurprisingly perhaps these are far from the only players that have been linked.

Hence why fans can expect perhaps more names than they have become used to emerging over the coming weeks. The club’s figureheads have been outspoken ahead of this window and expectations therefore are extremely high.