Andrea Berta’s Transfer Plates: Summer 2026

[dashsnow17]

Who's the star though? You're looking at Vini and that's it.

Idk, yeah agree it’s not many beyond Vini, but there’s a star out there somewhere. Why has a club of our size gone so long without a star.

 

[OnlyOne]

Idk, yeah agree it’s not many beyond Vini, but there’s a star out there somewhere. Why has a club of our size gone so long without a star.

Depends what you classify as a star, we're littered throughout defence and midfield, just not attack. The closest we got was Saka but Mikel tore his hamstring.

We've neglected attack for too long but not sure how easy it's been to find a star in attack in the last few years.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I want more ambition in attack tbh but Bruno is a very welcome surprise that hopefully does a lot more for our attack than we expect.

We'll see how the summer plays out anyway, it seems we still want a CF.

His progressive passing numbers are incredible.

 

[dashsnow17]

Depends what you classify as a star, we're littered throughout defence and midfield, just not attack. The closest we got was Saka but Mikel tore his hamstring.

We've neglected attack for too long but not sure how easy it's been to find a star in attack in the last few years.

Star I think most people think of a forward. Saka is our star in that sense but he’s not really a true star is he, he’s a top quality player but his best goal scoring season was 20 goals all comps 16 in the league.

Hard to find stars, it always has been, but maybe we’re not taking enough risks. The chances of us recruiting a star from within the PL are too slim.

 

[Diesel]

I think tzolis might be a decent Leo replacement. I can see why people don't want him but the Barcola infatuation only makes sense if we boot Martinelli or move him to back up striker as @teamsoutheast had suggested.

Could be completely off on tzolis but he seems the definition of a final third player. Albeit a much weaker league but still ...

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

So if they sell Trossard get Tzolis and Rogers or Barcola we'll have 3 LW. Because even if Martinelli is up for sale but so far been zero interest.

There must be something going behind the scene here. Doesn't matter if you want quality depth having 3 LW Doesn't make sense

 

[A_G]

So if they sell Trossard get Tzolis and Rogers or Barcola we'll have 3 LW. Because even if Martinelli is up for sale but so far been zero interest.

There must be something going behind the scene here. Doesn't matter if you want quality depth having 3 LW Doesn't make sense

Who said we’re signing all three?

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Who said we’re signing all three?

No I mean two of Tzolis with one of Rogers or Barcola not all 3 but even this to me doesn't make sense if Martinelli cant be sold

 

[A_G]

No I mean two of Tzolis with one of Rogers or Barcola not all 3 but even this to me doesn't make sense if Martinelli cant be sold

The Times said a few days ago Nelli has interest from other clubs and is considering his future

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

The Times said a few days ago Nelli has interest from other clubs and is considering his future

Bayern Munich still didn't sign LW to compete with Diaz i won't rule them out to come with bed I really struggle who the other teams will want Gabi with his salary

 

[El Duderino]

It’s a good team, it could win a title, it may not who knows, but it’s a team without a star. And a star is what we’re all craving.

Biggest problem is that there is no X factor other than Saka. Someone who'll grab the team by the scruff of its neck and drag it to a win or that will simply pull one out of the bag.

dont get me wrong, it's a very good team, one that will likely win a lot of matches.

But there's no one there that can claw something back if we happen to be in an almost unwinnable position.

 

[SteveEvets]

Star I think most people think of a forward. Saka is our star in that sense but he’s not really a true star is he, he’s a top quality player but his best goal scoring season was 20 goals all comps 16 in the league.

Hard to find stars, it always has been, but maybe we’re not taking enough risks. The chances of us recruiting a star from within the PL are too slim.

The only "stars" at the right age profile are Mbappe, Vini Jr, Haaland, Kvara, Yamal, and Olise. Outside of some kind of egregious, behind the scenes off-pitch drama those guys aren't getting sold, no matter how many "risks" we take. It's not a structural defect of the club that we aren't going bully Real Madrid into selling us Vinicius by "dropping 200m and seeing what happens."

Ironically PSG, who everyone is jealous of, took a step forward by *selling* Mbappe and replacing him with multiple "potential" stars who still needed to actually take that step up. Fortunately for them, they all hit, and now they have multiple "stars."

You're going to have to accept that we aren't going into next season with a ready-made "star" of the sort listed above. But from the prospective business we're doing we are going to end up with Saka, Dowman, and perhaps two of Rogers/Barcola/Tzolis/Kroupi (hopefully). None of them are there yet, but they are in the age bracket where a step up is still on the cards, and the more of them we stockpile the likelier it is at least one of them will do it.

Until then, our "star" is not necessarily an individual player (although I'd argue we have multiple non-attacking stars), but the fact the squad has the highest floor in Europe. And even if no one blossoms into a definite star, we're still likely to end up with a squad that has an even higher floor than last season. A decent chunk of our support is basically offended that we won the league and nearly the CL that way, and until a 40-50 g/a per season guy emerges they will remain unhappy, even while we legitimately compete on all fronts again. I'm trying to be generous here, but I'm extremely dismissive of that attitude given the general pool of talent in football today and the fact that the results are there.

 

[Fallout]

The only "stars" at the right age profile are Mbappe, Vini Jr, Haaland, Kvara, Yamal, and Olise. Outside of some kind of egregious, behind the scenes off-pitch drama those guys aren't getting sold, no matter how many "risks" we take. It's not a structural defect of the club that we aren't going bully Real Madrid into selling us Vinicius by "dropping 200m and seeing what happens."

Ironically PSG, who everyone is jealous of, took a step forward by *selling* Mbappe and replacing him with multiple "potential" stars who still needed to actually take that step up. Fortunately for them, they all hit, and now they have multiple "stars."

You're going to have to accept that we aren't going into next season with a ready-made "star" of the sort listed above. But from the prospective business we're doing we are going to end up with Saka, Dowman, and perhaps two of Rogers/Barcola/Tzolis/Kroupi (hopefully). None of them are there yet, but they are in the age bracket where a step up is still on the cards, and the more of them we stockpile the likelier it is at least one of them will do it.

Until then, our "star" is not necessarily an individual player (although I'd argue we have multiple non-attacking stars), but the fact the squad has the highest floor in Europe. And even if no one blossoms into a definite star, we're still likely to end up with a squad that has an even higher floor than last season. A decent chunk of our support is basically offended that we won the league and nearly the CL that way, and until a 40-50 g/a per season guy emerges they will remain unhappy, even while we legitimately compete on all fronts again. I'm trying to be generous here, but I'm extremely dismissive of that attitude given the general pool of talent in football today and the fact that the results are there.

I like and agree with your overall attitude here

However I'm a bit concerned that we're running some key players into the ground, all of whom have injuries / long-term knocks / playing through pain.

I wouldn't be surprised if next season we actually take a step backward on that basis

I think we should continue to be price conscious in the market for now given how ridiculous some of these fees are

But if the stars aren't aligning for us in August I think we need to pull the trigger on someone

 

[viktor]

 

[Uncle Macho]

I dont think its all on Berta. Zubi, Noni, Eze and even Nørgaard wernt his signings imo

I agree, it’s pretty obvious Arteta points and Berta shoots. Just like with Edu.

Zubimendi we had been working on for years and I highly doubt he was keeping tabs on Noni, Eze and Nørgaard all the way from Athletico.

I feel like he led the Gyokeres and Masquera signings though.

 

[Tourbillion]

What does he mean not escaping?

 

[Ash10]

What does he mean not escaping?

As in he is getting sent to the Indonesian league finally. He fakes getting injured every summer to escape being sold

 

[Kampberg04]

Hello everyone

I want to react to Tzolis, but I think he’s an interesting player because he has a great technical and percussion quality. Replacing him to get back into the game is not bad.

He is unquestionably the best player in the Belgian league and has performed very well in the Champions League.

But as an incumbent, we need something big.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Bayern Munich still didn't sign LW to compete with Diaz i won't rule them out to come with bed I really struggle who the other teams will want Gabi with his salary

Maybe top Turkish clubs or Atletico

 

[Tourbillion]

Hello everyone

I want to react to Tzolis, but I think he’s an interesting player because he has a great technical and percussion quality. Replacing him to get back into the game is not bad.

He is unquestionably the best player in the Belgian league and has performed very well in the Champions League.

But as an incumbent, we need something big.

We do need a top drummer.