Arsenal are looking to bolster their recruitment department this summer and provide new sporting director Andrea Berta with additional support ahead of a crucial transfer window.
What the Gunners are able to do in the window will be pivotal in determining how Mikel Arteta’s team fares next season, with a marquee striker signing, a dynamic winger and a midfielder all needed.
Martin Zubimendi is expected to sign from Real Sociedad, meaning Berta has already secured the midfield acquisition he needed to supply Arteta with.
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko have been identified as the two primary striker targets.
After that, it’s not yet clear who Arsenal will pursue out wide, while they also may look to recruit another defender and a back-up goalkeeper.
Arsenal in ‘advanced talks’ with Matteo Tognozzi
Berta was appointed as Edu’s replacement back in April, and he’s already taken major steps in the transfer market with the addition of Zubimendi and the pursuit of a striker.
However, the sporting director’s skills generally lie in liaising with clubs and enacting deals, and he could do with additional support regarding player identification.
Thus, it’s no surprise that Arsenal are looking to provide him with a scouting specialist.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are in advanced talks with former Juventus Head of Scouting Matteo Tognozzi.
Tognozzi also worked as the sporting director for Spanish side Granada from November 2023 until February of this year.
Previously a scout at Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Zenit St. Petersburg, the Italian has a wealth of experience when it comes to finding players, and has been cited as being the man to identify talents such as Kenan Yildiz and Dean Huijsen.
It’s understood that he’d be part of the team working directly with Berta, overseeing Arsenal’s holistic squad building over the coming years.
- READ MORE: Who is Matteo Tognozzi? Meet the chief scout Andrea Berta is in ‘advanced talks’ to hire at Arsenal
It’s imperative Arsenal secure Matteo Tognozzi
An incredibly talented scout, Tognozzi would be an exceptional acquisition for Arsenal.
Having as many different voices in the room contributing to the Gunners’ transfer strategy is imperative, to ensure the likes of Arteta and Berta don’t assume complete control.
Tognozzi will not only help Arsenal identify gems from niche leagues, but he’ll also be adept at helping Arteta and Berta make informed decisions over well-known and established transfer targets.
The full responsibility for how the North Londoners build their squad cannot be left entirely to Berta; thus, they need to get this deal over the line as soon as possible.
If the Gunners do land Tognozzi, then the Arsenal faithful can expect to see an unknown player with huge potential arrive through the doors at London Colney later this summer.
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