Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta has some astonishing plans for Mikel Arteta’s squad this summer - but only if AI is to be believed.
The Italian has touched down in north London after a successful 12-year stint with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, where he crafted the squads that claimed a pair of La Liga titles and a Europa League in 2018, along with two Champions League final appearances.
He now takes over from the departed Edu the role of building an Arsenal cohort capable of being named Premier League champions. While it is not out of the realm of possibility that a Liverpool collapse hands his new side their first league title in over 20 years, AI predicts that no expenses will be spared this summer in an attempt to make next year their year.
An AI-generated analysis conducted by aceodds.com used Berta’s strategy from his time at the summit of Spanish football - and the areas most in need of improvement at the Emirates - to determine some key names that the new sporting director could examine this summer.
One of these positions was at striker. A lot has been made of Arsenal’s lack of a true goalscoring No. 9, and while names were reported to have been courted over the last two transfer windows, currently injured pair Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus were made to man the fort.
Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates
Gyokeres has been heavily linked with a Premier League move (Image: Getty Images)
The AI model, however, sees a marksman as somewhere where Berta may make a move, and one highly-touted name, Viktor Gyokeres, appears on the list.
The Swede has starred for Sporting Lisbon over the last 12 months, and reports suggesting he could be available for less than his £83million release clause have attracted suitors.
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrates
Frenchman Ekitike is flying in the Bundesliga (Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal have long been thought to be one of those admirers, and AI predicts that the cost-effectiveness of the signing, as well as the high return of such a forward, fits the profile of players traditionally targeted by Berta.
The immediate impact and potential of French U21 star Hugo Ekitike also sees the Frankfurt ace land on the list, as well as another name rumoured to have been of interest to the Gunners in the past, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Regarding potential wing signings, Spain’s Euro 2024 hero and Athletic Club talisman Nico Williams is shortlisted, thanks to Berta’s past affinity to activate release clauses for high-potential stars. £50m is the release price that would have to be parted with for the 22-year-old.
Arsenal transfer target Nico Williams played a huge role in both of Spain's goals against the Netherlands
Williams was supposedly on Arsenal's radar in 2024 (Image: (Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images))
Staying in La Liga, the model also pinpoints Barcelona’s Raphinha, due to his balance of adding an immediate impact and long-term potential. Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma is another selection, as Berta is known to acquire emerging talent from within his league.
According to AI, Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo could be considered at left-back, thanks to Berta’s tendency to acquire experienced players at reasonable prices. Bayer Leverkusen's 29-year-old is estimated to be available for just £35m.
Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri is another suggested target, thanks to Arsenal’s new director liking to balance his squad with proven domestic talent, and Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez is a proposed alternative as a young star with experience in a European top-flight.
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.