Arsenal is anticipated to be very active in the upcoming summer transfer window. Having finished 10 points behind champions Liverpool in the Premier League, the club aims to strengthen significantly, and sporting director Andrea Berta is expected to play a pivotal role in recruitment efforts.
Andrea Berta`s Potential Impact at Arsenal This Summer
According to Spanish football expert and journalist Guillem Balague, Andrea Berta`s arrival at Arsenal brings a wealth of experience and a strong reputation within the sport.
Balague highlighted Berta`s successful 12-year tenure at Atlético Madrid, where he was instrumental in building Diego Simeone`s highly competitive squad. He noted that Berta is widely regarded within football circles as one of the top sporting directors in the game.
Balague told TNT Sports, “You have to say that he was the architect of the Atlético Madrid side that secured two league titles, reached two Champions League finals, and won the Europa League.”
He added, “Working quietly alongside Simeone, Berta is known for avoiding interviews and press conferences. While not publicly prominent, he is certainly considered a top negotiator and one of the best operators in football.”
| Arsenal 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 |
Balague suggested Arsenal brought him in to help Mikel Arteta build a winning culture. He pointed out Berta`s success despite competing against financial giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He concluded that Berta has a knack for achieving success even when rivals have greater financial resources, something Arsenal has sometimes struggled to consistently do.
This summer transfer window is crucial for Arsenal`s ambitions. Berta faces the significant challenge of reshaping the squad to launch a much stronger Premier League title challenge next season.
A key weakness in the 2024/2025 season was the absence of a consistently prolific striker, a problem exacerbated by injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. Reports indicate Arsenal are exploring potential deals for both Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig`s Benjamin Sesko.
BBC journalist Sami Mokbel reports that Arsenal are currently laying the groundwork for potential transfers for both players before making a final decision on which target to prioritize and formally pursue.
Arsenal Reportedly Leading for Benjamin Sesko Signing
While Mikel Arteta`s team weighs up whether Gyokeres or Sesko is the better fit for the club`s needs, Sky Sports Germany`s Florian Plettenberg suggests Arsenal currently holds the advantage in the pursuit of Sesko.
Although Manchester United have reportedly shown interest, Plettenberg states that Arsenal is the only club to have engaged in `concrete talks` for Sesko at this point, indicating Berta currently faces limited direct competition for the highly-rated Slovenian striker.
Described as an “extremely quick” forward, Sesko is coming off his most productive Bundesliga season to date, having scored 21 goals across all competitions and surpassing his 2023/2024 total of 18.
While these figures might seem moderate compared to some elite forwards, Sesko`s impressive physical capabilities and significant potential for further improvement at just 22 years old make him a very appealing prospect for top clubs, especially with a release clause reportedly set around £70 million.
