Andrea Berta could be tempted to use Mikel Arteta to land Arsenal one emerging transfer target.
The Gunners’ sporting director couldn’t have arrived at a busier time, as the 2025 summer transfer window holds so much importance to Arteta’s project.
Arsenal are doing their homework on an array of targets, with as many as 12 attackers on Berta’s transfer wishlist.
Though signing a striker and a winger is the top priority at the Emirates throughout the summer, there are also set to be some arrivals in other positions.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to sign from Chelsea to compete with David Raya between the sticks, and in defence, Marc Guehi has been identified as a target.
Aymeric Laporte is an admirer of Mikel Arteta
Guehi would be an expensive purchase, making a transfer for the Crystal Palace skipper difficult to imagine.
There’s no need to panic, however, as there’s another name on Berta’s radar when it comes to adding to the defence.
Arsenal have emerged as an option for Aymeric Laporte, who could leave Al-Nassr this summer, two years after the centre-back bid farewell to Manchester City.
Laporte has an array of suitors as he weighs up his options, but there’s one reason why the Gunners might be able to cross the finish line in first place.
That’s because, when it comes to attempting to win the Spaniard over, Arsenal might not need to do much work at all, as the defender is already a strong admirer of Arteta.
The pair worked together at Man City, when Laporte lauded Arteta as ‘one of the best’.
“Mikel is a great coach and, for me, he has been one of the best people I have met in Manchester,” the 31-year-old told Sky Sports in 2020.
Laporte went on to detail his relationship with Arteta, dubbing the Arsenal boss a ‘great manager’.
“He tries to help players all the time, he had a really good relationship with everyone, and with me especially.
“I think he’s a great manager and he will make great things in his coaching career.”
Being a six-time Premier League winner, there are few players who could be as impactful behind the scenes as Laporte, who could be a smart capture for the Gunners to strengthen defensive depth.
How much does Laporte earn?
If there’s one stumbling block to exploring a transfer for Laporte, it would be the salary that the Spaniard has become accustomed to at Al-Nassr.
The defender’s salary of £20m-a-year in Saudi Arabia sees him collect a weekly wage of just under £400k, as per Capology, which isn’t feasible at Arsenal.
Capology notes that Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s highest earner with an annual salary of £14.5m, which is £5.5m less a year than Laporte collects.
The Spain international would have to accept a pay cut if he were to return to the Premier League, as matching his current salary would destroy the Gunners’ wage structure.
It would be fascinating to see how Arsenal would approach a deal for Laporte, with his salary something that could be a problem.
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