EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal add Delap to shortlist as Berta makes major transfer strategy shift

Steve Kay

• Updated: 21 Apr 2025 13:41 CDT
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Liam Delap has emerged as a target for Arsenal, though the Ipswich Town striker is set to buck a broader transfer trend at the Emirates Stadium as new sporting director Andrea Berta puts his stamp on the club.

Delap has joined Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins on the Gunners’ shortlist for a supporting striker role as part of Berta’s revamped transfer strategy, FootballTransfers can reveal.

Current ETV

Liam Delap

F (C), AM (R)

Ipswich Town

Liam Delap

F (C), AM (R)

Ipswich Town

€33M

ETV Range

€24.8M - €41.3M

View full profile

Watkins, who Arsenal approached back in January, is viewed as a striker oven-ready to lead the line. Delap, on the other hand, has impressed Berta with his physicality and development this season and is considered a valuable rotational option who could complement a lead striker such as Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

The inclusion of both players speaks to the club’s new two-striker plan - one proven Premier League name, and another younger option who offers flexibility, potential and sell-on value.

Sesko pays price for Berta’s new approach

Sources say Berta was clear from day one: Arsenal need to win now. That means competing for the Premier League and pushing deep into the Champions League. To do that, he believes the club must shift away from signing younger players and instead focus on players who are already operating at the highest level.

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is one player who appears to have been affected by this new approach. While still admired internally, the 20-year-old is no longer seen as a top priority under Berta’s direction.

Instead, the focus has moved firmly to players like Watkins. In those early planning meetings, Arteta also floated the idea of Alvaro Morata, but Berta dismissed it - insisting Watkins was the better fit. That led to a concrete approach for the England international during the January window.

Clear switch in Arsenal’s transfer strategy

At the beginning of the season, Arsenal’s transfer plan - shaped by Edu and Mikel Arteta - was clear: continue targeting young, high-potential talents who could develop into first-team stars over time. But that vision has shifted significantly since Berta took over as sporting director.

The Italian is already stamping his authority at the club, with sources telling FootballTransfers he is leading a major change in how Arsenal approach the market. Now, the focus is firmly on bringing in players who can make an immediate impact.

As part of that shift, Arsenal aren’t just chasing a marquee striker this summer - they’re also in the market for a second forward who can add depth and versatility to the attack, something FootballTransfers has previously reported.

It’s clear Berta is already reshaping Arsenal’s identity in the transfer market. With Arteta backing the new direction, the Gunners look set for a summer window centred not around potential, but proven quality.