Arsenal ‘open’ to using defender in Eze swap deal with Berta ‘determined’ to get transfer done

MArsenal fans are watching the transfer news very closely this summer and one of the biggest stories coming out right now is about the club’s strong interest in signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace reports suggest that Arsenal are even weighing up a swap deal to make it happen and that the club’s new sporting director Andrea Berta is determined to seal this transfer as soon as possible this move is seen as one of the most important priorities for Arsenal in the transfer window because Mikel Arteta wants to strengthen his squad with a new attacking midfielder and at least one winger the plan is to give Arteta more quality and depth in attack so Arsenal can finally take that last step to win the Premier League and compete seriously in the Champions League after coming so close in recent seasons

Arsenal’s interest in Eberechi Eze is not new the club has been following him for years because they see him as one of the most talented and creative attacking midfielders in the Premier League he has impressed everyone with his skill dribbling vision and ability to unlock defences something Arsenal sometimes struggled with last season especially in tight games where they dominated possession but found it hard to break down low blocks Arteta knows that to become champions they need players who can produce magic in the final third and Eze is exactly that type of player someone who can create chances out of nothing score goals himself and make defenders panic whenever he is on the ball

Andrea Berta Arsenal’s new sporting director who joined from Atletico Madrid is said to be pushing very hard to get this deal done Berta has a reputation for being a tough and clever negotiator who knows how to get difficult transfers over the line he understands that signing Eze would be a statement of intent for Arsenal showing that they can compete with the very best clubs for top Premier League talent Berta also knows that Arteta wants his squad settled early in the summer so they can have a full preseason together and work on new tactics and combinations last season Arsenal saw how important a strong start was and they want to be even better prepared this time around

The idea of a swap deal has reportedly come up in talks between Arsenal and Crystal Palace because Palace know that they might lose Eze but they also want to strengthen their own squad instead of just taking cash they might prefer getting a quality player from Arsenal in exchange this is where things get interesting because Arsenal have a few players who might interest Palace players who are talented but not guaranteed starters at Arsenal and who might want more minutes elsewhere names like Emile Smith Rowe Reiss Nelson Eddie Nketiah and even Fabio Vieira have all been mentioned in the media as possible makeweights in a deal for Eze

For Arsenal a swap deal could make a lot of sense financially because Eze will not be cheap Crystal Palace value him very highly and it is believed they would want at least £60 million if not more for a straight cash deal given the crazy prices for attacking talent in the Premier League right now this is not surprising Eze is an England international at the peak of his powers he is still young with many years ahead of him and he is coming off an excellent season where he was the standout player for Palace scoring goals creating chances and leading by example he is exactly the kind of player Arsenal want someone who is proven in the league and ready to make a big impact

Arsenal fans are excited about the possibility of signing Eze because he seems to fit perfectly into Arteta’s system he can play as an attacking midfielder in the number 10 role but he can also drift wide play on the left or right and even operate deeper if needed his versatility is a big plus because Arteta likes players who can adapt and move around the pitch creating overloads and confusion for the opposition Eze’s technical quality is also top class he is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure turning defenders and driving forward with skill and pace something Arsenal sometimes missed when Martin Odegaard was marked out of games

The reports about Berta being determined to get this deal done have given fans hope that this is not just paper talk but a serious effort from the club to back Arteta and take the squad to the next level Arsenal know they were close last season but they fell just short of winning the league despite pushing Manchester City all the way they also know that City will strengthen Chelsea and Manchester United will spend big Liverpool have a new manager and will be dangerous Tottenham are improving under Ange Postecoglou so standing still is not an option if Arsenal want to finally win the league again after 20 years they need more top quality players and more depth so they can handle injuries and rotation without dropping points

Adding someone like Eze would also reduce the creative burden on players like Odegaard and Bukayo Saka who played a lot of minutes last season and sometimes looked tired towards the end Saka in particular has played a huge amount of football for club and country and Arteta knows he needs to protect him better this year having another creator and goal threat in the team would allow Arsenal to rotate more and keep their best players fresh for the biggest games this is part of the club’s long term plan to build a squad that is not just talented but also deep enough to compete on multiple fronts including the Champions League

There is also the question of competition for places something Arteta believes is essential for a top team bringing in Eze would raise the level in training and push players like Smith Rowe Vieira and even Trossard to improve or risk being left behind healthy competition is something all the top teams have look at Manchester City where even world class players have to fight for their place every week Arsenal want that same mentality where no one can be complacent and everyone has to give their best to stay in the starting eleven Arteta has talked many times about the need for “two players for every position” and signing Eze would be a big step towards achieving that

Some fans have worried about the cost of the deal especially given that Arsenal also want to sign a winger and possibly strengthen other areas like central midfield and defence but the club’s ownership and sporting leadership have shown in recent windows that they are willing to spend big when they believe it is the right player they spent over £100 million on Declan Rice last summer and it has paid off with Rice becoming one of the most important players in the team they also spent big on Kai Havertz who had a slow start but improved as the season went on Arsenal believe that if you want top quality you have to pay for it and Eze is seen as someone worth that investment

The idea of a swap deal would help reduce the net spend and also help balance the squad by moving on players who might not have a big role next season someone like Emile Smith Rowe is loved by fans but has struggled with injuries and getting consistent minutes Arteta likes him but the competition is tough and a move to Palace where he could play regularly and be a star might appeal to him likewise Eddie Nketiah has been a good squad player but might want to be a first choice striker somewhere else Palace could use a striker like him so there are potential deals that could work for both clubs and make the finances easier for Arsenal

Andrea Berta’s reputation is important here too because he is known for being creative in negotiations and finding ways to structure deals that work for everyone he has only just started at Arsenal but he has a big job ahead of him this summer to deliver the players Arteta wants while also managing the budget and the squad size Arsenal have to be careful about the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules so swap deals and player sales are going to be important to balance the books while still strengthening the team fans are hopeful that Berta’s experience at Atletico Madrid where he pulled off some clever deals will help Arsenal navigate this challenging transfer market

Meanwhile Crystal Palace will not want to lose Eze but they know it will be hard to keep him if a big club comes in with serious money or an attractive swap offer Palace are an ambitious club but they cannot match Arsenal’s wages or Champions League football and they also have to think about their own squad building selling Eze for a big fee or getting quality players in exchange would give them resources to strengthen other areas of their team they will try to get the best deal possible but if Arsenal are determined and Eze wants the move there is a feeling that something could be agreed this summer

Fans will also be watching Eze himself for any hints about his intentions so far he has been professional and focused on Palace but everyone knows he is ambitious and wants to play at the highest level joining Arsenal would mean playing in the Champions League fighting for the Premier League title and working under Arteta who has a reputation for improving players Eze would also link up with England teammates like Saka and Rice which could help him settle quickly there is a real sense that this move could be perfect for him at this stage of his career

As the transfer window goes on there will be more twists and turns and Arsenal fans know nothing is guaranteed until the player is holding the shirt at the Emirates but the signs are positive that this is a deal the club really wants to do and that they are prepared to work hard to make it happen the idea of Arteta adding Eze to his squad is an exciting one because it shows that Arsenal are not just content to be second best they want to go one better and finally bring the Premier League trophy back to North London after all these years for many fans this summer is all about backing Arteta and giving him the tools he needs to succeed signing Eze would be a big statement that Arsenal mean business and are ready to fight with the very best

Fans will keep refreshing their social media feeds looking for updates waiting for those magical words “here we go” from the top transfer journalists but even without official confirmation yet the buzz is growing people are already imagining how Eze would look in the famous red and white how he would link up with Saka Odegaard Jesus and Rice how he would light up the Emirates with his dribbling and goals Arsenal have come a long way under Arteta but everyone knows there is still more to do to become champions signing Eze would be another big step on that journey and for now all eyes are on Andrea Berta to see if he can deliver the deal Arsenal fans are dreaming of