Arsenal have made a slow start to the summer transfer window so far but the Gunners remain hot in pursuit of several targets including Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
11:38, 27 Jul 2026
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is currently in the spotlight as the Italian, alongside assistant Maurizio Micheli, seeks to execute another big summer transfer window in north London.
The Premier League champions oversaw a record spend this time last year and their eight signings helped fire Mikel Arteta's side to the club's first title in 22 years.
Now the onus is on strengthening again without disrupting the harmony and momentum built at the Emirates Stadium over the past few years.
With that in mind, here are five big transfer decisions Berta and head coach Arteta need to iron out before the window closes.
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Martinelli's future
If Vinicius Jr arrives, it's safe to assume Gabriel Martinelli will be moved on given the recent signing of Christos Tzolis.
Arsenal's reported interest in Vinicius is evidently a unique opportunity linked to his uncertain contract situation at Real Madrid.
The Gunners have flirted with offloading Martinelli over the past year but they've struggled to find serious bidders.
His valuation is difficult to gauge given he's lacked consistency but if they were to throw huge cash at Los Blancos for the Brazilian superstar, they would have to find a solution for his compatriot Martinelli.
That would put Berta's negotiating power to the test. Bayern Munich have shown interest in the past and looked at signing Anthony Gordon at the start of the summer, indicating they're open to landing another forward.Outside of that, the Saudi Pro League could be an option but there are no guarantees Martinelli would be willing to move there, even if the money on offer would likely be eye-watering.The window closes on Tuesday September 1 and it's just not feasible - logistically and financially - for Arsenal to have three natural left-wingers in their squad beyond that date.
Ben White - Keep or sell
Ben White was in admirable form at the end of last season prior to sustaining a knee injury in the 1-0 win at West Ham.
He's now stepping up his recovery but prior to the injury, his future at the club was in serious doubt.
Now William Saliba's back injury means Arsenal have to seek temporary cover and it should not be forgotten that White was initially signed as a central defender from Brighton.
He's a versatile and solid competitor and given there are no standout options on the right-back market, it would feel somewhat risky to sell him at this stage.
Equally, unless Arsenal receive a decent offer above market value, it doesn't feel like they would be able to replace him for a similar price.
Guimaraes fee - how high do Arsenal go?
Bruno Guimaraes turns 29 in November so Newcastle are reluctant to overpay for the Brazilian midfielder.A £70million offer has been mooted from their side, though the Magpies insist there has still not been any club-to-club contact.Newcastle appear prepared to reject the £70m offer if it arrives, so how much higher would Arsenal be prepared to go?Guimaraes has two years left on his Newcastle contract which also contains a one-year option to extend until the summer of 2029.He's undoubtedly a top player but Arsenal will be reluctant to pay whatever figure it takes to get a deal done as that would set a dangerous precedent for the future that could harm their negotiating power in other deals further down the line.Additionally, are there alternatives? Who are they and are they also worth the cash. These will already have been discussed and decided internally but this is a tricky negotiation and file for Berta to navigate.
Give up on Alvarez?
It's been heavily speculated in Spain that Viktor Gyokeres could potentially be used as makeweight in a deal to sign Julian Alvarez.If a deal for Vini Jr cannot be struck, Arsenal will continue to monitor developments with Alvarez's future at Atletico Madrid.The Argentine wants to join Barcelona but if Atleti refuse to crack and Alvarez still decides he wants out, there is still a small chance Arsenal could become a viable option.Again, it's a question of how hard Arsenal are willing to push to potentially make this happen, outside of whether Alvarez is actually willing to join.Either way, it's clear the Gunners are willing to make a big push for a marquee forward this summer.
Selling fringe players
It's fair to say there are a number of fringe players free to leave Arsenal but Berta must improve the club's ability to receive respectable fees.
Reiss Nelson struggled on loan at Brentford while Fabio Vieira impressed at Hamburger SV, however, the German outfit are operating with a restricted budget and won't be able to meet Arsenal's valuation.
There's a fine line between moving players on and also having the self-respect not to entertain bids of modest value when the player is evidently worth more than what is being proposed.
Arsenal need to get that judgement right as they continue to evolve as over the years, they've lost good players for little value or worse, free transfers.
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