Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is famed for identifying a host of transfer targets and working on potential deals for several of them before deciding which one is best to pursue.
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He was thought to be Mikel Arteta’s preferred option.
We’ve seen this throughout the summer window thus far, with Berta simultaneously holding talks over both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres at one point (BBC).
The ex-Atletico Madrid chief ultimately decided on Gyokeres, who is believed to be on the verge of a move to Arsenal after an agreement in principle was struck with Sporting earlier this week (The Athletic).
|
Arsenal estimated transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) |
Money on new signings |
|---|---|
|
19/20 – winter |
£0 |
|
20/21 – summer |
£81.5m |
|
20/21 – winter |
£900k |
|
21/22 – summer |
£156.8m |
|
21/22 – winter |
£1.8m |
|
22/23 – summer |
£121.5m |
|
22/23 – winter |
£59m |
|
23/24 – summer |
£208m |
|
23/24 – winter |
£0 |
|
24/25 – summer |
£101.5m |
|
24/25 – winter |
£0 |
|
25/26 – summer |
£140m |
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg also reported earlier this summer that Berta was holding “numerous” talks over signing a winger, before the Gunners eventually settled on Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, who was officially announced as a new Arsenal player on Friday.
This is simply the way Berta operates, as explained by journalist Ben Jacobs.
“The best way of describing it is that Andrea Berta’s approach is different to Edu. If he was going to a party, he would lay out three or four outfits, try them all on and finally decide what to wear,” said Jacobs on talkSPORT.
“Andrea Berta is out in the market, effectively lining up both deals, whereas Edu tended to pick one and be very meticulous, and then discreetly try and get it over the line, often with a series of bids.
“It was either a very smart tactic because Arsenal had confidence that they would get that man, or it dragged on, and we got more summer sagas. We won’t see that with Andrea Berta.”
Berta’s methods appear to be shining through again in Arsenal’s pursuit of a central attacking midfielder, which is their next priority after Gyokeres and Madueke (Ben Jacobs).
Much has been made of their interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze in particular.
Arsenal have held positive talks with Eze’s representatives, and there’s an expectation that they’re set to formally approach Palace over signing the star playmaker, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Arsenal praised as Berta targets Xavi Simons as Eberechi Eze alternative
However, Berta is starting to spin more plates in the attacking midfield department, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Arsenal hold an interest in RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.
The Dutchman only completed an initial £43 million permanent move to Leipzig from PSG in January, but Romano states he’s prepared to leave the Bundesliga side already and top Premier League sides are aware of this.
Simons can play on both the left and more centrally, having starred for Leipzig in both positions for the last two years. In 2023/2024, he racked up 10 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, adding to that tally with 11 goals and eight assists in 24/25.
The 22-year-old can be devastating on his day, and journalist Buchi Laba believes that Simons would be a better signing for Arsenal than Eze.
“For me, I will take Xavi Simons ahead of Eberechi Eze,” said Laba on X.
“He’s a better player, More flexible and for his age, more experience and fits the Arsenal system more.”
Arsenal and other English suitors are apparently hopeful they can sign Simons for £56m (talkSPORT), which would also make him a cheaper option than Eze, with Palace refusing to budge on his £68 million release clause thus far.
