Arsenal have reportedly been keeping a close eye on £85m-rated target Viktor Gyokeres, with scouts from the club said to have attended ‘nearly every game’ of his for Sporting Lisbon this season.
The Swedish striker has impressed greatly, leading to speculation that Mikel Arteta is lining him up as his first transfer.
Regardless of how their Premier League title fight with Manchester City pans out, it’s expected that Arteta will look to strengthen his attacking options. A new centre-forward is thought to be high on the club’s recruitment list.
Previously, Arsenal were linked with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney. However, Toney has struggled to find consistent form since returning from an eight-month ban in January, netting only four times in the Premier League.
As per Jornal De Noticias, Gyokeres has caught the attention of Arsenal scouts after scoring an impressive 41 goals for Portuguese champions Sporting. It’s reported that talent-spotters from the Emirates Stadium have been present at almost all of his matches, reports the Express.
His £17m move from Championship side Coventry has proven to be a huge success for the 25-year-old. The latest buzz suggests that Viktor Gyokeres is on the brink of exiting Sporting, with Arsenal tipped as frontrunners in the chase for the ex-Brighton striker. However, they’re not alone in their interest, as other top-flight English clubs are also keeping tabs.
Sporting Lisbon have fortified their stance with an £85 million release clause embedded in Gyokeres’s contract, and indications are they won’t settle for anything less for their prized number nine.
Following his struggles in front of goal, talk was rife that Gabriel Jesus would be made available in the summer as the Gunners look to raise funds for another title push – but the Brazilian has made his feelings clear on the matter.
“The speculation will always be there, not only here but every club,” he said. “People want to decide who the club wants to sign. This is not just happening at Arsenal but a lot of clubs.”
Arsenal boss Arteta has quashed any rumours of Jesus’s departure, firmly stating: “I don’t know where reports about a Gabriel Jesus exit are coming from. We have no intention of letting Gabriel leave.”
