Viktor Gyökeres has heaped praise on three Arsenal stars as the Swedish striker edges closer to a big-money move to the Emirates
Arsenal transfer target Viktor Gyökeres has heaped praise on three Arsenal stars as the Swedish striker edges closer to a big-money move to the Emirates Stadium. The 27-year-old has been at the centre of ongoing negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting CP, with a deal potentially worth up to £70 million.
In a newly published France Football interview, Gyökeres was asked to name players who have impressed him most in the current game. The prolific Sporting CP forward, who scored an astonishing 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Portuguese side, singled out Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhães, three players he faced in the Champions League last season.
“Yes, definitely. Especially at English clubs,” Gyökeres said. “Midfielders like Bernardo Silva, [Mateo] Kovačić at Manchester City or Saka at Arsenal are impressive to watch. I’ve also faced very high-level defenders, like Gabriel and Saliba. It’s a chance to play against those kinds of players.”
Should a move to Arsenal materialise, Gyökeres could be training alongside the very defenders he once battled on the pitch, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his attack ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Gyökeres also spoke openly about his desire to return to the Premier League, having previously been on the books at Brighton & Hove Albion without making a league appearance. “It’s one of the biggest leagues in Europe. I spent several years there without being able to play a single match,” he said. “So, of course, it’s something I’d like to do. It would be great revenge!”
Despite limited opportunities in England, Gyökeres has established himself as one of Europe’s most lethal strikers since moving to Sporting, attracting interest from several top clubs. However, Arsenal remain firmly in pole position, with Gyökeres reportedly favouring a move to North London over rival suitors.
Tensions between the player and his current club have escalated in recent days. The Sweden international was absent from Sporting’s training session on Friday and is not expected to join their pre-season camp in the Algarve. Instead, he has returned to Stockholm, awaiting a resolution and holding firm in his belief that he has played his final game for the Portuguese champions after helping them secure a domestic double in 2024/25.
When asked directly about the possibility of leaving Sporting during the France Football interview, Gyökeres remained measured but suggestive: “Maybe. That’s football, you never know. I don’t think about it; we’ll see what happens. If something happens, it will. The most important thing for me is to play for a club that really wants me.”
Arsenal view Gyökeres as the ideal forward to lead their line next season, and with the player publicly voicing admiration for key Gunners players, as well as expressing a clear desire to return to the Premier League, the North London club are hopeful of wrapping up the transfer in the coming days.
