Andrea Berta is already set to correct one of Edu’s biggest mistakes at Arsenal, it could fund Eberechi Eze

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Andrea Berta is quickly building a reputation for conducting smart business at Arsenal.

The Italian sporting director replaced Edu Gaspar in March, after the Brazilian left to oversee Evangelos Marinakis’ network of clubs.

Expertly negotiating a reasonable £63 million fee for Viktor Gyokeres, Berta has also swiftly completed five more signings.

Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard have all walked through the doors at London Colney, while Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera are set to follow suit.

This will be the first time Arsenal have signed six players before pre-season has started in 28 years, highlighting the exceptional work Berta has done.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Andrea Berta could shift Reiss Nelson’s wages this summer

Attention is expected to turn to outgoings once deals for Gyokeres and Mosquera are finalised.

Reiss Nelson is expected to depart, with the winger already attracting interest from several Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Crystal Palace.

Fulham are reportedly most keen on Nelson and will look to negotiate a cut-price deal with the Gunners for the 25-year-old.

The Hale End graduate is surplus to requirements at the Emirates, having started just one Premier League game for the North Londoners since the 2019/20 campaign.

Despite being a peripheral figure, Edu offered Nelson a four-year contract worth £100,000 a week back in 2023, a hefty deal for a player who clearly isn’t and never has been part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.

After undergoing surgery twice last season, the former Feyenoord man is a damaged asset, and Berta will do well to shift him out of the door permanently, given his wages.

Arsenal may be forced to accept a minimal fee, with few clubs likely to be willing to pay these wages and stump up a significant transfer fee.

That said, cutting ties this summer would save the Gunners £10.4 million in wages over the next two years of the player’s contract.

Selling Reiss Nelson could help fund Eberechi Eze

While attention will now be on outgoings, Arsenal still want to add one more player to their ranks.

Eberechi Eze is the priority target, although after spending in excess of £200 million already this summer, a deal for the Crystal Palace star may not be financially plausible.

However, a few sales, combined with shedding huge wage packages off the wage bill, like Nelson’s, could help make an ambitious move for Eze possible.

The England international has a £68 million release clause, and the additional £10.4 million saved on Nelson, plus a potential fee, could make the difference for the Gunners.

This would represent another piece of smart business from Berta.