Andrea Berta has been urged to peer over his shoulder as Manchester United eye an Arsenal transfer target.
The Gunners’ sporting director is gearing himself up for a sensationally busy summer.
Arsenal are excited to have Berta on board, particularly as the upcoming transfer window holds great importance to the future of Mikel Arteta’s project.
One non-negotiable in the summer is Arsenal’s need to sign a striker, with several targets already sounded out.
Manchester United ready to hijack Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres transfer plan
Arsenal’s top target is Alexander Isak, but the Newcastle talisman’s £150m price tag makes a deal near-impossible to imagine.
As a result, Viktor Gyokeres has overtaken Isak on Arsenal’s transfer list, but the Gunners aren’t the only club eyeing the Sporting CP striker.
French outlet L’Equipe documented Manchester United’s plan to have a say in Gyokeres’ future, as Ruben Amorim hopes to reconnect with his former player.
In a piece titled, ‘Manchester United are not letting go of Gyokeres’, L’Equipe reported that the Red Devils have been in contact with Gyokeres’ representatives for ‘several weeks’.
Given that Arsenal are reported to have agreed a deal with Gyokeres regarding a possible salary, the news is rather ominous, as the Swede already has a strong relationship with Amorim.
It’s understood that talks between the Sporting star and United remain ‘very active’, with Arsenal’s rivals plotting to ‘accelerate’ talks after the Europa League final.
Even before the summer window officially opens, United are threatening to hijack two of the Gunners’ transfer deals, as Arsenal target Matheus Cunha is close to making Old Trafford his home.
Andrea Berta won’t let Gyokeres go without a fight
The situation regarding Cunha is different to the one regarding Gyokeres, as it’s unclear where the Wolves superstar would fit into Arteta’s system at the Emirates.
Putting L’Equipe’s update aside, it’s imperative that Arsenal remain very close to Gyokeres, whom Berta is a significant admirer of.
Given Berta’s transfer history in the striker market, it’s almost guaranteed that the Italian won’t let the Swede go without a fight, as 53-goal forwards being available for £60m is a rarity.
Arsenal will remain confident in their pursuit of Gyokeres with Berta on board, with the former Atletico Madrid man already a firm believer in what the number nine could offer Arteta’s squad.
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