Arsenal chief Andrea Berta 'working on' SIX transfers as Premier League bid made

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Arsenal are reportedly pursuing as many as six transfers just a fortnight into the summer window. The Gunners have only wrapped up the £42.5million permanent signing of loanee Piero Hincapie thus far.

However, their activity is expected to gather pace throughout July. This summer's recruitment drive is being spearheaded by sporting director Andrea Berta and head of scouting Maurizio Micheli.

Their season concluding at the latest possible stage due to their participation in the Champions League final, coupled with the ongoing World Cup, will have contributed to their relatively quiet start in the market. Nevertheless, behind-the-scenes work is said to be taking place.

The Daily Mail point out that there is precedent under Berta for conducting several negotiations simultaneously. This is referenced in relation to the Gunners reportedly holding talks over Morgan Rogers while also preparing to test Paris Saint-Germain's resolve for Bradley Barcola.

Arsenal are credited with an interest in both players, along with Bruno Guimaraes, for whom they are said to have already submitted a bid. The club are likewise reported to have made enquiries regarding Alex Scott and to have held discussions with the representatives of Kerim Alajbegovic.

Christos Tzolis, who Arsenal are seemingly being offered, is another player they appear to be genuinely interested in pursuing.

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The Mail suggests that Mikel Arteta's side are targeting around four players to strengthen their Premier League title-winning squad ahead of their defence of the trophy next season.

Of the half-dozen players highlighted, Alajbegovic, Barcola, Guimaraes and Rogers are still flying the flag for their respective nations at the World Cup. Scott also trained in England's camp before the tournament got underway, while Tzolis turned out for Greece in two friendlies earlier last month.

As for the players themselves, either Barcola or Rogers would represent a potential marquee wide-forward acquisition. Alajbegovic and Tzolis, meanwhile, are considered more budget-friendly options out wide.

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Guimaraes and Scott are interchangeable as central midfield candidates alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Martin Zubimendi increasingly found himself on the fringes under the manager during the closing months of last season.

Arteta challenged the club to push even harder following their Champions League final defeat. The manager said: "We will start the process to review what we've done.

"If you want to reach another level, we're going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it demands to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart."

He also added: "We need to ⁠do better, to improve and find different margins to get the outcome."

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