Arsenal are on the hunt for a new sporting director and a new striker
Arsenal are preparing for a Premier League clash with old rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. The fixture is unlike the what the rivalry used to be when both clubs were fighting at the top of English football.
The Gunners are second in the league and all-but through to the last 16 of the Champions League after a 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven in midweek. United, meanwhile, are languishing in the bottom half of the table with their round of 16 tie in the Europa League hanging in the balance. The Red Devils drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad on Thursday night and will likely have one eye on their second leg while Arsenal can put their focus into Sunday’s game.
Mikel Arteta’s side still have slim hopes of winning the title but will need to overhaul Liverpool’s 13-point lead in their final 11 games. The Gunners do have a game in hand and have the chance to reduce the gap next weekend when they face Chelsea in the Premier League with the Reds in Carabao Cup final action.
Arsenal linked with new striker
Arsenal are ‘expected’ to open talks as they look to complete a ‘mega-money’ deal for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez. That is according to Football Insider, who report potential sporting director Andrea Berta is a big admirer of the player.
A striker has been on Arsenal’s wishlist for a number of seasons now and while they signed Kai Havertz in the summer of 2023, it has long been felt the German needs additional support in the position. Both Havertz and fellow striker Gabriel Jesus have been ruled out for the season while Arsenal sold the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Mika Biereth in the summer.
Martinez joined Inter back in 2019 and has scored 146 goals in 319 games for the Italian club. He has won the Serie A title twice and was part of Argentina’s World Cup winning squad in 2022. This season, he has 17 goals in 37 appearances. He is under contract for another four years in Italy once this season comes to a close.
Arsenal closing in on Berta
Reports from Football Insider earlier this week claimed a deal for Andrea Berta to become the club’s new sporting director is ‘all-but done’. The Gunners saw the surprise departure of Edu late last year, as he left his role to join Nottingham Forest. He had been at the Emirates in that capacity for five years.
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Berta worked with Spanish club Atletico Madrid for 12 years but departed the Spanish capital in January. He oversaw the signing of Conor Gallagher last summer, among a number of other deals. He has previously worked in his homeland of Italy in roles with Genoa and Parma.
In other news, Arsenal make 'contact' to sign £29m wonderkid as Spurs and Chelsea name-checked as contenders.