Arsenal are pushing to keep hold of star forward Bukayo Saka, with contract talks planned to get him on an extended deal at the club.
The 23-year-old has been a sensation since breaking into the first team all those years ago, progressing to become a key player for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side.
The impact of the Hale End graduate can often go under the radar, but it has been sorely felt this season with his three-month absence.
A torn hamstring injury for Bukayo Saka has kept him sidelined for a while, but his imminent return is set to boost the Gunners.
On top of that boost for the rest of the season, there is hope that Saka could put pen to paper on a brand new contract extension.
Plenty of that could be dependent on the new sporting director, Andrea Berta.
Andrea Berta will take care of Bukayo Saka contract talk process
Just shortly after arriving at Arsenal, Andrea Berta is already thrown into the thick of the action at the club, with plenty already at his desk.
The sporting director is tasked with a huge summer ahead, where he will have to plan the signings that could make the difference to winning the Premier League or Champions League next season.
Arsenal want a striker as a top priority, while a winger, a midfielder and a goalkeeper could also be on the cards in the weeks ahead.
While that’s the case with incoming players, there will have to be an effort towards keeping the current crop of stars, too.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are entering the final two years under contract at the club, which will no doubt raise some eyebrows about their futures.
Despite that, work is already being done to tie them down, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that Saka is set for new talks with Arsenal.
It’s claimed that Berta is already looking over the whole process, with discussions held with his agents and the possibility of a stay.
Exactly what those plans are from the new director is unclear, with talks likely to circulate on bigger topics such as rough wages and contract length.
Given the impact of Saka in the team, it could be one of the most important deals that Arsenal complete in the weeks and months ahead, even over any new signings.
Three key areas will define early era of Andrea Berta at Arsenal
With Berta now officially the new Arsenal sporting director, attention quickly turns to the impact he could make at the club.
The first of those surrounds contracts, with some key stars nearing the final two years of their deal.
The Gunners don’t wish to find themselves in a Liverpool situation, where three of their most important players are out of contract in the summer and they are facing a scramble to tie them down or face losing them.
In the months ahead, the way in which Berta can get them to commit to the future of the project will be key to keeping the foundations for success.
Building on those foundations is the next part, with a summer transfer window built to get some big deals over the line.
A striker is without doubt the most important signing for Berta to make, while a wide player and a midfielder appear to be on the cards too.
Beyond that, how the director makes use of sales will also be important.
Arsenal could look to maximise more from their sales to land the players they want, with a few squad players likely to leave.
All three of those areas will be key to Berta making a good first impression on fans.
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