Berta comes with plenty of promise having spent a remarkable 12 years at Atletico Madrid. The Guardian reports that the 53-year-old has agreed a deal with Arsenal and will start his work straight away with plenty of work to be done ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal need to invest come the end of the campaign after falling well short of the Premier League title race this time out and LondonWorld outlines the three key priorities for Berta.
Give William Saliba a new contract
While Arsenal have lacked firepower this season, the defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel continues to impress. It’s imperative that the Gunners keep that duo at the heart of the back four to build in the years to come but that won’t happen without a new contract for the Frenchman.
The 23-year-old signed a new contract in 2023 and will enter the final two years of that deal come the end of the season. Saliba will stay at the Emirates Stadium until 2027 as it stands but transfer rumours will be rife next year as the final 12 months of the contract edges closer.
Real Madrid are known to be big fans of Saliba and, while no transfer attempts have been made yet, it does seem a matter of time if Saliba is not offered a new contract. That will likely have to be a bumper deal from Arsenal but it’s one that needs doing.
Speaking this week about his future, Saliba said: "I'm really happy here. I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."
Cough up the £51 million for Martin Zubimendi
If Andrea Berta wants an early win as technical director at Arsenal, that surely has to be the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. The Gunners are tipped to be frontrunners to bring the Spaniard to work with Mikel Arteta but there is competition from Manchester United.
As much as signing Zubimendi would be a statement of intent, at this stage it could be embarrassing for Arsenal to lose that transfer race. The player has a £51 million release clause and comes with Champions League and Europa League experience, as well as having played at Euro 2024 for Spain.
As it stands, Arsenal are set to see Jorginho and Thomas Partey leave as free agents this summer. That may not be a bad thing, with space for change, but it seems imperative to make Zubimendi one of those recruits.
Sign an Arsenal talisman
Ultimately, whether it’s Ollie Watkins, Alexander Isak or Dusan Valhovic, Arsenal simply need to sign a new striker. Injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have highlighted the desperate need for a bagsman, but truthfully that was already plain to see.
Should Arsenal have managed a marquee striker acquisition last summer, there’s a feeling this year’s Premier League title chase may have panned out differently. It’s an absolute must to recruit a goalscorer come the end of the season but, with the whole world aware of Arsenal’s plight, that won’t come easily.
Berta will have to flex his transfer knowhow in the window. He’s signed Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata and Luis Suarez before, so the signs are promising.
In other news, Arsenal are ‘considering’ a major swoop for a Premier League rival star.
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