Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta will be alerted to one transfer Edu Gaspar missed out on.
In November, Edu pulled the plug on his time at Arsenal, leaving his post as sporting director to indulge in pastures new.
The Brazilian was succeeded by Berta, who boasts a strong history in Europe, pulling off some record-breaking signings at Atletico Madrid.
Mikel Arteta will lean on Berta ahead of what promises to be a busy summer transfer window in North London, with plenty of wrongs to make right ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Former Arsenal target Michael Kayode exposes Man United
Edu and Arteta failed in the summer transfer window, which has ultimately cost the Gunners a third consecutive shot at the Premier League title.
There were plenty of opportunities for Edu to bolster the Arsenal squad in 2024, chances that were missed, one of which was failing to track target Michael Kayode.
Arsenal sent scouts to watch Kayode ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, as the Fiorentina prodigy put his name up in lights in Italy.
Fabrizio Romano noted Arsenal’s interest in Kayode, but the defender was not signed, although he did make his way to the Premier League.
In January, Brentford announced the signing of the 20-year-old, who has since lit things up in the Premier League, with his latest victims being Manchester United.
During the Bees’ win over Ruben Amorim’s side, Kayode was a frequent threat at right-back, recording an assist and being an all-around nuisance for the Red Devils.
If there was ever a time for Arsenal to reflect on transfer misses, it was on matchday 35, when the player the Gunners had scouted tormented Man United to prove his Premier League pedigree.
Kayode is now out of Arsenal’s hands
Even if Arsenal were alerted to Kayode’s performance against their bitter rivals, the ball is far from being in Berta’s court to pick up where Edu left off.
When Brentford agreed a deal to bring the Italy U21 international to the Gtech Community Stadium, an option to buy clause was inserted, giving Thomas Frank full control over the defender’s future.
Upon signing for the Bees, Frank lauded Kayode as a ‘very good signing’, which could be an inclination regarding the manager’s long-term plans for the starlet.
“A very good signing, I think, I really like him and I’m very happy that we managed to sign him to give us a little bit more depth in the full-back positions,” Frank said, via Brentford’s official website.
“He’s very talented and is a fantastic physical package. He’s got good ability going forward and is very good defensively.”
Kayode could go down as the one that got away for Arsenal, as he continues to show his worth at Premier League level with Brentford.
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