Arsenal could lose millions if Andrea Berta doesn't solve £353m problem
Andrea Berta hasn't been afraid to splash the cash since taking the reins at Arsenal(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The Bosman ruling, which allows players to leave clubs without charge following the expiration of their contracts, could cost Arsenal millions in revenue unless Andrea Berta pulls out his pen and paper...
In little over a year, as many as nine Arsenal players will be eligible to open talks with foreign clubs regarding a potential free transfer in the summer of 2028. Unless they each decide to extend their stay at the Emirates Stadium, the sporting director will be forced to make a difficult call.
Berta will have to consider whether he would rather risk losing the players in question for free at the end of next season or cut his losses and cash in before it's too late. The Italian has done well to tie down many of the big names since taking the helm in March 2025, with Bukayo Saka being the latest to agree new terms.
But a few players have either left for free or for a cut-price fee over the years, costing the club millions in potential revenue. Real Madrid have also become renowned for liking a bargain, recently prising Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva from Liverpool and Manchester City, respectively, without paying a transfer fee.
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At the moment, Berta doesn't have much to worry about, but this time next year, as many as nine Arsenal players will be just weeks away from being eligible to engage in pre-contract talks with foreign clubs.
So, with that being said, football.london has looked at who at the Emirates Stadium needs a new deal.
Rice signed a five-year contract when he left West Ham to join Arsenal in a deal worth £100million plus £5m in add-ons. The 27-year-old has recently established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, helping the Gunners win the Premier League and reach the final of the Champions League.
Shortly after Arsenal wrapped up a deal for Rice, Odegaard put pen to paper on a five-year contract extension, keeping him at the Emirates Stadium until at least June 2028. After a couple of rocky seasons, the Gunners skipper has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and needs to be rewarded.
Timber also signed a five-year contract with Arsenal during the summer of 2023, when he arrived from Ajax for a fee in the region of £38m. The 25-year-old defender has bounced back brilliantly from his disastrous start to life in north London, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut.
Havertz left Chelsea to join Arsenal in a deal worth £65m during the summer of 2023. He, too, signed a five-year contract, arriving as one of many players tasked with helping the Gunners win the Premier League after falling short in Arteta's first title race.
Raya only signed a four-year contract when he joined Arsenal permanently from Brentford in July 2024, having spent the first 12 months on loan. With no glaringly obvious upgrades out there, the 31-year-old goalkeeper could remain between the sticks for a while.
White penned a four-year contract extension during the summer of 2024. Interestingly, though, the Gunners reserve the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months.
In August 2024, Merino signed a four-year contract with Arsenal upon arriving from Real Sociedad for a fee that could reach £31.6m. The 30-year-old midfielder has become a cult hero at the Emirates Stadium, developing a great knack for scoring goals in the absence of a natural striker.
Arsenal signed Meslier on a free transfer in the summer. Leeds United chose not to extend the 26-year-old goalkeeper's stay at Elland Road, making him a free agent.
Arsenal signed Kepa from Chelsea last year after impressing on loan at Bournemouth. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who fails to impress whenever called upon by Arteta, signed a three-year contract.
According to Transfermarkt, the nine Arsenal players currently have a combined market value of €413m (£352.5m). The Gunners cannot afford to sit back and assume each of the players will sign contract extensions by December 2027, so Berta needs to get his chequebook out... now!
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