Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta is working on as many as six transfers just a fortnight into the summer window, as the Premier League champions prepare to defend their crown after a 22-year wait for the title. The club have so far completed only the £42.5m permanent signing of loanee Piero Hincapie, but behind-the-scenes talks escalate towards what manager Mikel Arteta called a “big summer” after finishing runners-up for three consecutive seasons.
Arteta’s side ended that drought last season, winning the Premier League for the first time since the Invincibles in 2004, and also reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 – only to lose. “We will start the process to review what we’ve done,” Arteta said after that defeat. “If you want to reach another level, we’re going to have to show…”. The manager has challenged the club to push even harder.
“Arsenal pursue six transfers under Andrea Berta as Premier League champions plan title defence after 22-year wait.”
According to the Daily Mail, Berta and head of scouting Maurizio Micheli are pursuing multiple deals simultaneously, a tactic with precedent from their earlier work. Arsenal are reported to have submitted a bid for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães, held talks over Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, and are preparing to test Paris Saint-Germain’s resolve for winger Bradley Barcola – both players still at the World Cup. Enquiries have also been made for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, while Kerim Alajbegovic is a target after discussions with his representatives. Christos Tzolis, offered to the club, is another genuine interest.
Arteta wants around four reinforcements to a squad that already includes midfielder Martín Zubimendi, who increasingly found himself on the fringes during the closing months of last season. The arrivals of Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga last summer helped Arteta guide the club to glory, and the challenge now is to repeat that success. With the World Cup ongoing and Arsenal’s season ending at the latest possible stage, the quiet start to the window is expected to give way to a flurry of activity.