Arsenal chief Andrea Berta will be keeping an eye on the Carabao Cup final.Arsenal chief Andrea Berta will be keeping an eye on the Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal chief Andrea Berta will be keeping an eye on the Carabao Cup final. | Getty Images
Bruno Guimaraes is the centre of transfer speculation amid reported Arsenal interest this week.
Arsenal take on Chelsea in Premier League action this afternoon, an enticing London derby, but the country’s footballing attention may be centred elsewhere with the small matter of a Carabao Cup final taking place at Wembley Stadium.
Either Newcastle United or Liverpool will lift the trophy this afternoon. It would be the first piece of major silverware since 1955 for the Magpies while victory for Liverpool could be the first taste of success this season with Arne Slot’s side frontrunners in the Premier League title race.
The result could be of particular interest to the Gunners amid transfer rumours swirling around the Emirates Stadium this week following a deal agreed with Andrea Berta to become the club’s new technical director. The 53-year-old has left Atletico Madrid after an impressive 12 years and takes on the position vacated by Edu in November.
Arsenal target to star in Carabao Cup final
It’s an exciting new era for Arsenal and there’s been no shortage of speculation as to where Berta’s priorities may lie. This week, Spanish outlet AS claimed that they will first be in midfield with two targets outlined.
One is Real Sociedad man Martin Zubimendi, who has been readily linked with a £51 million move to North London, and the other is Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Jorginho and Thomas Partey are both currently set to leave the club as free agents this summer, freeing up space for incomings.
Berta is said to be a ‘lover’ of Guimaraes and that report adds that, while the player is happy at Newcastle United, he could be ready to make the move as and when he wins a trophy with the club. Obviously, a win over Liverpool this afternoon, would tick that box and provide a potential boost to Gunners’ transfer hopes.
Eddie Howe hails ‘inspirational’ Bruno Guimaraes
AS adds that Newcastle United could listen to a £60 million bid for player if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. A Carabao Cup win would guarantee Eddie Howe’s side Conference League football.
The midfielder was centre of transfer rumours last season as it appeared he may have waved farewell to Newcastle United fans in the last match of the campaign against Brentford. At the time, Magpies manager Eddie Howe said: “I don’t think it’s a wave goodbye. I think Bruno’s probably done that many times. It can be interpreted as anything – it can be interpreted in a certain way if the people watching interpret that to be the case.
“Certainly, from my side, I hope it’s not. He is integral to what we are doing. He is an inspirational player and we’re desperate to keep him.”
Despite those reports from AS, GiveMeSport ran a story on Saturday claiming that Guimaraes had assured the club that he would not be pushing for a move to Arsenal this summer. It is claimed that ‘influential figures’ on Tyneside have received the assurances - the player does have a £100 million release clause in his Newcastle United deal.
In other news, Arsenal won’t be happy with the PGMOL announcement for the Chelsea clash.