Andrea Berta is being put to the test at Arsenal as the summer transfer window ramps up.
The Italian arrived with a clear task to deliver, bolster Mikel Arteta’s attack with at least a striker and a winger.
It appears that the Gunners’ sporting director is set to tick all the boxes, as Arsenal are closing in on Viktor Gyokeres and are conducting talks with Chelsea for Noni Madueke.
After Arsenal agreed personal terms with Madueke, it was revealed that the North Londoners have commenced discussions with their rivals over yet another transfer from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates.
Gary Lineker shares Noni Madueke to Arsenal transfer verdict
There is a gap in Arsenal and Chelsea’s valuation of Madueke, with the Blues wanting £55m+ for the Englishman and the Gunners wanting a £10m discount on that figure.
Fans are divided in their opinion on signing the 23-year-old, who, despite having a high ceiling, has only scored 13 goals in his Premier League career.
That being said, Berta and Arteta clearly see something in the former Tottenham academy ace, with the deal progressing.
Madueke’s proposed transfer to Arsenal was a talking point on The Rest Is Football podcast, as Gary Lineker passed comment on the move.
“The Madueke one is quite interesting,” Lineker said.
“Looks like he’s agreed a five-year contract with Arsenal, small gap in the valuation between the clubs, negotiations ongoing, but it looks like that one will be done.”
The deal would represent Arteta’s second signing from Chelsea this summer, and Arsenal’s tenth transfer of a player from West to North London.
There will be hope around the Emirates that Chelsea will lower their asking price, with the £10m valuation gap being the only stumbling block at present.
Lineker thinks Arsenal should’ve signed a different Chelsea star
Lineker dubbed the deal as an ‘interesting’ one; however, the pundit believes Arsenal should’ve signed a different Chelsea player this summer.
Tim Sherwood said Arsenal should’ve signed Liam Delap before Enzo Maresca got the job done, and Lineker thought the same as the former Spurs boss.
“I thought maybe Arsenal would go for him. Perhaps they did? I don’t know,” Lineker said on an episode of The Rest Is Football aired on June 6th.
“I think he’s a young, exciting centre-forward. I saw someone say they saw a bit of a young Alan Shearer in him. Shearer with a full head of hair. I think that’s the only thing that Chelsea were missing really.”
Delap appealed to plenty of clubs following Ipswich Town’s relegation after netting 12 Premier League goals in 2024/25.
Chelsea acted quickest to secure the Englishman’s signature, while Arsenal are working to fill their number nine void with Gyokeres.
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