Berta closing in on first Arsenal arrival as Gunners prepare for summer spree

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is a busy man - and he hasn't just been in negotiations with players recently, with a move for a new recruitment specialist gathering pace

Arsenal are reportedly trying to strengthen their recruitment team ahead of a busy summer transfer window by moving to hire Matteo Tognozzi. The Gunners are embarking upon a hugely important off-season and new sporting director Andrea Berta is keen to bring in reinforcements.

The club knows that they need to improve their squad if they are to take the next step under Mikel Arteta in 2025/26. Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League for three straight campaigns and were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain last season.

Former Atletico Madrid recruitment chief Berta was hired in March with the remit to provide Arteta with key signings this summer. The Gunners have already snared Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi for £51million, but have a whole host of other players on their radar.

They are not just working on signing players, though, with The Athletic reporting that Tognozzi is in advanced talks to join Berta’s department. The 38-year-old Italian has previously worked for Juventus and Granada and is well regarded as a recruitment specialist.

He made his name working under former Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici at Juventus. If Arsenal can conclude a deal, then Tognozzi will effectively replace Jason Ayto, who left last month having climbed the ranks over 10 years at the club to become assistant sporting director under Berta’s predecessor Edu.

Arsenal are keen to get Tognozzi on board soon because time is of the essence in the transfer market. Zubimendi is expected to become the first signing of what will be an extremely busy summer, with several other positions being looked at.

According to reports in Greece, Arsenal are in talks with Genk over a deal for 17-year-old Greece international Konstantinos Karetsas. The young midfielder could cost the Gunners around £38m, although he would remain at Genk for next season to continue his development.

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Meanwhile, the main focus is on landing a top-class centre-forward, with Arsenal keen on both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres. A final decision on which they will go for is reportedly yet to be taken by Berta, who has been pondering the financial frameworks of the deals.

Arsenal also have a long-term interest in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and would like to sign a new back-up goalkeeper after Neto returned to Bournemouth at the end of his loan deal. They are reportedly keeping an eye on Kepa Arrizabalaga, who performed well at Bournemouth last season and has a £5m release clause in his Chelsea contract.

The club’s co-chairman, Josh Kroenke, has made it clear that the Gunners mean business this summer. "We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season," Kroenke said. "We're delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea, who will play an important role in this.

"He is part of a unified and strong team, supported by the board, who are crystal clear on exactly what we need to do and the way in which we want to do it. The right way. The Arsenal way."