ANDREA BERTA is ready to raid LaLiga for talent this summer - with Nico Williams in his sights.
The new Arsenal sporting director is bracing for a busy first few months in the job.
Nico Williams of Athletic Club in action during a soccer match.
Nico Williams is on Arsenal's radar ahead of a huge summer at the EmiratesCredit: Getty
Nico Williams of Athletic Club in action during a soccer match.
New sporting director Andrea Berta (left) is plotting a major overhaulCredit: Getty
Nico Williams' 2024-25 Athletic Club season statistics.
Italian Berta, 53, was appointed as Edu's successor earlier this month.
And he's got straight to work in planning for a radical overhaul at the Emirates.
The former Atletico Madrid chief reportedly met with Williams' representatives earlier this week.
It was one of Berta's first acts in his new role, where he is tasked with making Arsenal consistent title challengers.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
Berta set up a meeting with the 22-year-old’s agent Felix Tainta, according to The Guardian.
Williams, a tricky and exciting winger, has been a long-term target for the Gunners.
He has helped Bilbao reach the quarter finals of the Europa League this season, netting 8 times in 35 games.
Arsenal approached Bilbao over a move last summer after Williams had broken England's hearts in the Euro 2024 final.
Most read in Football
ARSENAL FILES: HOW GUNNERS COULD LINE-UP AGAINST REAL MADRID
But they were told the Spaniard was keen to stay in LaLiga for at least another season.
Williams has a release clause of £48.4million and the outlet claims he is pushing for a move.
England fans heartbroken as Three Lions trail Spain courtesy of Nico Williams goal
Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are all set to rival Arsenal for his signature.
Berta has wasted no time in getting his feet under the table in North London.
He has already drawn up an exciting shortlist as he looks to provide Mikel Arteta with a true No9.
Arsenal look set to finish second in the Premier League for a third consecutive season.
And their lack of depth in attacking areas has been laid bare by a crowded injury room this term.
Arsenal ratings v Fulham
ARSENAL had a night of mixed fortunes as they beat Fulham 2-1 at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka not only returned but also scored after 101 days out.
But injuries to Gabriel and Jurrien Timber ahead of next week's visit of Real Madrid took the gloss off the win.
Here's How SunSport's Josh Hall rated Mikel Arteta's men on the night.
DAVID RAYA - 7
Week by week Raya is staking a claim as one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
He doesn't have to face a barrage of shots as part of this Arsenal team, but rarely falters when he is called upon.
His distribution and preventative high claims are also among the best around.
There was little he could have done to stop Rodrigo Muniz's deflected goal.
JURRIEN TIMBER - 6
It looked like the Dutchman's night was going to be cut short around the half an hour mark when he went down clutching his knee.
Fortunately, he was able to play on and even managed to test Bend Leno with a stinging effort in the second half.
Unfortunately his earlier knock proved too much and he was taken off with a niggle in the 75th minute.
Arsenal could now be without at least two starting defenders for their clash with Real Madrid.
GABRIEL - N/A
Just when Arsenal fans thought they were creeping out of their injury crisis with the return of Bukayo Saka, they lose another top star.
Gabriel hobbled off after just 15 minutes to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
Arteta - and every Arsenal fan up and down the country - will be hoping the wall at the back will be fighting fit for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid next week.
WILLIAM SALIBA - 6
Stepped up to the plate in Gabriel's absence and looked assured both on and off the ball.
His frame did wonders to prevent Raul Jimenez from fashioning any chances in dangerous areas.
However, he wasn't able to do enough to stop Rodrigo Muniz from batting it against him to pull a late goal back for Fulham.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY - 7
Every time you see Lewis-Skelly play you wonder how he's only 18 and not a seasoned pro with years of experience at the top.
He didn't set the world alight against the Cottagers, but looked just as assured and comfortable as he always does - this time without Gabriel by his side.
While he also made an important bloke to prevent Muniz after Fulham had pulled back a late goal.
Mikel Arteta has splashed the cash to have a plethora of options at left-back, yet it seems like the Hale End academy graduate is now the number one choice for that position.
THOMAS PARTEY - 7
Almost gifted Fulham a golden opportunity with a loose header in the first half, but saw David Raya pop up to save the day.
Despite a few loose touches he did enough to keep the ball moving in central areas.
He's become an important starter for Arsenal this season, yet still seems to be on his way out in the summer on the expiration of his deal.
DECLAN RICE - 6
He's not a glamorous footballer, but he's always going to give 100 per cent no matter what.
Certainly not his worst game in an Arsenal shirt, but by no means his best.
MARTIN ODEGAARD - 5
Another frustrating night for the Arsenal captain who seems to have been unable to find the keys to unlock the low block his side faces each week.
The Norwegian is certainly one of the best talents in the league, but has only shown it in glimpses this season.
Arsenal as a whole looked a bit laboured and lacklustre at times, often that's a result of the way Odegaard is playing. When he ticks, the whole team does too.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI - 9
Regularly made Timothy Castagne look silly throughout the match and get into dangerous positions by the byline.
But despite fashioning plenty of opportunities, the Brazilian was - as per usual - struggling with his end product in the first half.
It almost seemed as if every shot or final pass was rushed or snatched at for the opening 45 minutes.
That changed in the second half when his delightful flick perfectly teed up Bukayo Saka for a dream return to action.
Finally looked like he had the goal to top off a spectacular performance in the dying moments, but was deemed to be marginally offside when his effort found the back of the net.
ETHAN NWANERI - 7
Bright spark in the opening exchanges and volleyed one right down the throat of Bernd Leno in the 21st minute as he looked the most likely to find the back of the net at first.
Instead it was his cutback that helped open the scoring when he placed it on to the boot of Mikel Merino to poke home the first goal of the night.
Replaced by Saka in the second half in perhaps a foreshadowing of what might happen to his role in the squad for the remainder of the season.
MIKEL MERINO - 8
Merino has stepped up the role of of make-shift striker with the sort of professionalism you would want from any player in your team.
He might not make darting runs behind the back four, or curl delightful efforts round the keeper, but he's certainly got a knack for goal.
His punt towards goal took a healthy deflection off Jorge Cuenca to send it into the corner, but he won't care - now netting an impressive five goals in eight games as a centre-forward.
He almost made that six when he rifled another effort goalward from a corner in the 60th minute.
SUBS:
JAKUB KIWIOR - 4 (ON FOR GARBRIEL 15mins)
Always a tough task to replace one of the best defenders in the league, but didn't do enough to impress at all.
Sloppily gave the ball away to gift a golden opportunity to Adama Traore in the second half, but was lucky to see the shot blazed wide.
He was partly to blame for leaving Rodrigo Muniz wide open for his wayward header on the 80th minute mark - once again saved by sloppy finishing.
With each game that passes it seems to be more obvious that the Polish international just isn't at the required level.
BUKAYO SAKA - 8 (ON FOR NWANERI 66mins)
The Emirates erupted in its loudest cheer of the night when Saka made his return to action after 21 games and 101 days on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
That was until he nodded home the Gunners' second just six minutes after crossing the line and an even louder roar bellowed around N5.
Arsenal have missed him dearly, and a return right before perhaps the biggest European game in the Emirates era could be crucial for Mikel Arteta's side.
LEANDRO TROSSARD - 5 (ON FOR TIMBER 77mins)
Had very little impact on the match coming on so late, but did nick the ball off the foot of captain Odegaard who was lining up a thunderous effort.
SunSport revealed last week that Arsenal areeyeing up Eintracht Frankfurt hitman Hugo Ekitikeas an alternative to £150m-rated Newcastle star Alexander Isak.
Isak looks set to stay in the North East with Newcastle unlikely to sell their prized asset.
While Berta has also put Sporting Lisbon goal machine Viktor Gyokeres on his wishlist.
The former Coventry forward is one of Europe's most in-demand players after netting 42 goals in his last 42 games.
Illustration of Andrea Berta's best and worst football signings, listing players and transfer fees.
Arteta appeared upbeat as he discussed the upcoming transfer window ahead of Tuesday's 2-1 win over Fulham.
He said: "It's going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.
"When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step.
Read More on The Sun
"Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now, that is necessary.
"But it's a big summer for many things because first of all we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously how can we improve and evolve the team."