Arsenal have been without a permanent sporting director since Edu left the club in November
Arsenal have been on the lookout for a new sporting director since Edu Gaspar’s surprise exit earlier this season
The Brazilian called time on his five-year spell leading the club’s player recruitment in November, which meant that the club had to negotiate the January transfer window with Jason Ayto operating in an interim role.
The club’s lack of transfer activity has been questioned in recent weeks following the season-ending injury to forward Kai Havertzwhich has left the team with no fit strikers as they struggle to bridge the gap to leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
Boss Mikel Arteta has been forced into using midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift forward in recent weeks, with the team missing a cutting-edge up front during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.
A number of names have been linked with the vacant sporting director post in recent weeks, including Real Sociedad director Roberto Olabe and Paris Saint-Germain advisor Luis Campos.
But this weekend saw another name emerge as a number of media outlets reported that former Atletico Madridsporting director Andrea Berta was set to take the job.
Berta spent 12 years with Atletico, during which time he was able to complete expensive, big-name transfers sich as last summer’s £64million move for Julian Alvarezfrom Manchester City, while also having an eye for a bargain, with the likes of Jan Oblak (a €4million signing from Benfica in 2014) and the €25million signing of midfielder Rodri from Villarreal in 2019 two notable additions.