Report: Andrea Berta wants to rejuvenate Arsenal's midfield with two huge signings

Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is targeting two big midfield splashes this summer, with Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Zubimendi on his wishlist.

The Gunners have work to do in the next transfer window after an inactive January. There's an expectation that the club will spend big in a bid to revolutionise Mikel Arteta's frontline and rejuvenate the Spaniard's engine room. The addition of a superstar centre-forward is regarded as the club's priority, but funds will be set aside to replace Jorginho and Thomas Partey.

The pair of experienced midfielders are set to leave the club following the expiration of their contracts in June.

Berta has already agreed to succeed Edu Gaspar as Arsenal's sporting director after Jason Ayto filled in on an interim basis, and the Italian will start work very soon.

Arsenal reportedly targeting summer move for Bruno Guimaraes

An exclusive report from Diario AS journalist Eduardo Burgos has revealed Berta's grand plan for Arsenal's midfield. Burgos understands that the incoming director's two primary targets are Newcastle's Guimaraes and Real Sociedad's Zubimendi.

The Italian is said to already be 'working tirelessly' over the signings, with Arsenal boasting a long-standing interest in both players. The Gunners were in the mix to sign Guimaraes before he moved to Tyneside, and it was reported in January that the club planned to make a summer move for Zubimendi.

Guimaraes has a huge admirer in Berta, who, Burgos claims, 'has been in love' with the Brazilian international - as a footballer, we can assume - and tried to sign him on multiple occasions while he was working at Atletico Madrid. Guimaraes can function as a #6 or an #8 and would doubtlessly be a superb signing given his body of work at St. James' Park. While Arsenal supporters haven't always been particularly fond of his antics, I have no doubts many will ditch such resentments if Berta brings him to the Emirates this summer.

The player reportedly has a €70m get-out clause if Newcastle fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. The Magpies' end to the season may well determine the futures of Guimaraes and Alexander Isak, another Arsenal target.

Zubimendi is an easier deal to pull off, although Real Madrid's reported interest is a concern. There's also talk of Xabi Alonso taking over from Carlo Ancelotti as manager, and Zubimendi already has an excellent relationship with the Bayer Leverkusen manager from his time working with Sociedad's reserves.

While the Spaniard doesn't exactly dazzle me, I'd have no complaints if he arrived in tandem with the mercurial Guimaraes.

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