Andrea Berta must make big change at Arsenal as finance expert warns of ‘crazy’ situation

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Arsenal are facing quite the challenge in the transfer markets coming up, in more than one way.

The Gunners spent heavily in the summer window just passed, with £250 million invested to sign eight players for the squad.

While it is useful for Mikel Arteta now, there are some potential future problems for him and Andrea Berta.

The large squad and a lack of players at the end of their contracts suggest little churn over the next year.

That means, if any signings are wanted, then sales will likely be required.

It’s an area that Arsenal haven’t been particularly proficient in, with finance expert Adam Williams suggesting change is needed.

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Andrea Berta warned to improve Arsenal transfer sales

Arsenal haven’t been the greatest at maximising value for their players through sales in the transfer market.

The Gunners’ most expensive sale is still Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s transfer to Liverpool, which sits at £35 million.

That is in stark contrast to their rivals, with several factors impacting the ability to sell.

TBR Football’s finance expert, Adam Williams, explained the situation surrounding Arsenal’s transfer exits.

He said: “The transfer market is just that – a market. It’s dictated by supply and demand. For Arsenal, I think one problem which they and other clubs might experience in the coming years is that the Premier League pays such high wages that the pool of teams they can sell to abroad is shrinking rapidly.

“We’re seeing mid-table Premier League clubs with wage bills around the same as Borussia Dortmund or AC Milan.

“It’s a testament to the commercial success of the Premier League, but it’s a crazy situation and one which might lead to some problems further down the line.

“Another macro factor is that we’re seeing Premier League clubs shop among themselves a lot more these days. That’s partly because, with the quality of the league and the profile of players that succeed here, it’s less of a gamble than shopping abroad.

“Again, that’s perhaps going to lead to some problems on the buy side going forward.

“With Arsenal specifically, I think it’s unavoidable that they will need to make sales soon. They sold pretty well in 2024-25, but to have a net spend of £250 million when you’re relatively close to the limit in terms of UEFA’s Squad Cost Ratio rule isn’t very sustainable.

“They have a good reputation, though, and we’ve seen that ‘Big Six’ clubs can charge a premium when it comes to selling homegrown players, so I don’t think they’ll struggle.”

It’s the one area Arsenal can certainly improve on, with Berta ticking every box apart from that one so far with his business.

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Which players could Arsenal sell in the upcoming transfer windows

If Arsenal do want to make some sales to make room in the squad and raise funds, then they will firstly look at those on the fringes.

Gabriel Jesus is one star who could struggle to get back into the team when he returns from injury, with just under two years left on his deal.

That may prompt a sale, but given his injury troubles, big wages and squad status, it seems unlikely that Arsenal could secure a large fee.

A player like Leandro Trossard or Ben White may be able to generate more revenue, as they are still performing and have value within the squad.

However, until Arsenal find a way to regularly draw value from their sales, and their young players in particular, it could take a while to be on the level of their rivals.