According to a report, Arsenal’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta, has a strong admiration for a “magical” midfielder he is quite familiar with, who is currently being considered for transfer by the Gunners.
Berta set to join the Gunners
The search for a successor to Edu has been a lengthy endeavor, but it seems the Gunners have finally identified their candidate, with Berta anticipated to make a transition to the Emirates Stadium, despite competing interest from other clubs.
Fabrizio Romano has disclosed that AC Milan expressed significant interest in securing the deal, conducting three meetings to convince the 53-year-old to join them at the San Siro; however, north London has consistently been his preferred choice.
The Italian aims to elevate Mikel Arteta’s project, and one of his initial objectives during the summer transfer window will be to recruit a new striker, with several potential targets already identified.
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is viewed as the ideal acquisition for the north London club, while RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is also among the top contenders. However, strengthening the striker position is not the only focus for the team.
Berta is also strategizing to revamp Arsenal’s midfield, and a report from The Boot Room indicates that he has a strong admiration for Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios, stemming from their previous collaboration in La Liga.
With an £84 million release clause in Barrios’ contract, he will not be inexpensive, but the Gunners may be inclined to pursue him, particularly given Berta’s high regard for the midfielder.
Nonetheless, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi remains the primary target for the midfield position, with negotiations for the 26-year-old still in progress, and there is a strong commitment to secure his signing promptly amid interest from other elite clubs.
“Magic” Barrios could be a solid Zubimendi alternative
It remains uncertain whether Arsenal will have the financial capacity to invest significantly in two elite midfielders this summer. However, indications suggest that the Atletico Madrid player could serve as a viable alternative to Zubimendi, should the latter opt for a transfer elsewhere.
The midfielder, hailing from Madrid, has become an essential figure for Atletico this season, participating in 31 matches across all competitions. He excels defensively, ranking in the 88th percentile for interceptions per 90 minutes over the past year among his positional counterparts.
Furthermore, this promising talent has been compared to one of Spain’s all-time great midfielders, Andrés Iniesta, by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
At just 21 years of age, Barrios is five years younger than Zubimendi, which may be an attractive factor for Arsenal. Nonetheless, the release clause could present a significant obstacle, as the required fee of £84 million makes him considerably more expensive than the Real Sociedad player, who is valued at £50 million.
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