Arsenal Transfer News: Viktor Gyokeres is on top of Mikel Arteta’s bucket list for the summer

Multiple reports said that Arsenal have made Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres their top priority for the upcoming transfer window. The Sweden youngster scored 33 goals in 37 games for the Lisbon-based side and helped them in a title race alongside Benfica.

The UK is not a strange land for Gyokeres as he was playing for multiple English and Welsh outfits such as Brighton, Swansea City, and Coventry City. He was one of the best strikers in the Championship division when playing for Coventry, scoring 43 goals in 116 appearances.

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners are serious about the move

A football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said that Arsenal are serious about Gyokeres. The Gunners, according to Romano, are examining the situation closely, seeing what other clubs would to the their target as well.

“Arsenal are keeping a close eye on that market [the Portuguese one] so let’s see what Arsenal will try to do or if some other club will jump into this situation,” Romano said.

Gyokeres has €100 million of a release clause on him, something that would be taken as advantage by Sporting. Romano added that it was the club’s intention to not sell the player on the last winter transfer window.

“They always want the entire release clause to let a player go when he is a superstar, like in this case with Viktor Gyokores,” he said. “I am sure they will ask for the release clause, €100 million. This is what they did in January when some clubs started to enquire about the situation. I’m sure it is going to be difficult but I’m also sure there will be interest.”

Considering his playing style, Gyokeres could enrich the option for Mikel Arteta who has been exploring tactics with young players. But Arsenal will not be the only suitors chasing the 25-year old’s signature. 

Also Read: Arsenal Makes £25.5m Bid for Benfica’s Marcos Leonardo Amidst Striking Reinforcement Talks

Viktor Gyokeres also attracts attention from Italy

Gyokeres also gained attention from the Serie A side AC Milan. However, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported that owing to the player’s price tag, it is unlikely that any Italian teams could match the transfer value.

“They don’t want to pay so much for him,” Di Marzio said to Football Direkt. “Only the Premier League clubs can afford him. Chelsea and Arsenal can afford him and Arsenal want him because they need a striker.

“When players do so well in Portugal, the clubs there want to sell the players. They understand when the time is right. For Gyokeres, it is also the right time to leave and give England another chance after the move from Coventry.”

Sporting signed Gyokeres for €21 million euro last summer. The club’s manager Ruben Amorim said that such a price was considered a little bit cheap, looking at Gyokeres’ performance so far.

“Mainly, I’m not the one paying,” said Amorim who is also linked with Liverpool, via BeSoccer. “Then he’s one of these players that, the more money you pay for them, the cheaper they are. They are cheap because they give a great performance that helps us win games and I would say that his goal has not made it cost us a million more expensive but a million cheaper.”