Arsenal Nears Deal for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement for Viktor Gyokeres, the highly sought-after striker from Sporting Lisbon, as part of their summer transfer plans to strengthen their attacking options.

The 27-year-old Swede has made a significant impact last season, scoring 54 goals in 52 appearances, and has been linked with moves to both Arsenal and Manchester United. Gyokeres’s relationship with Sporting has recently become strained, with disagreements over transfer fees. He believes he had an understanding with Sporting to be sold for around €70 million (£60 million) including add-ons, but the club is demanding a higher price.

Gyokeres is reportedly planning to skip pre-season training with Sporting and is eager to force a move, unhappy with comments made by Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, who indicated the club does not need to sell him and plans to be reasonable with the asking price.

Potential Additions and Market Context

Aside from Gyokeres, Arsenal is eyeing Monaco’s attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, a 21-year-old France U-21 international who scored seven goals last season. Monaco values him at approximately €70 million (£60 million), and interest from other Premier League clubs suggests he could be on the move soon.

Arsenal aims to bolster their squad after a challenging campaign marred by injuries, which hampered their title challenge. The signing of Gyokeres could provide a much-needed goal-scoring threat.

Comments from Sporting President

While Varandas acknowledged Gyokeres’s probable departure, he emphasized that the valuation will be considerably higher than the rumored €60 million plus €10 million in bonuses. He compared Gyokeres’s market value to recent high-profile deals, asserting that the Swedish striker’s worth exceeds that of recent signings like Matheus Cunha, who transferred to Manchester United for around £62.5 million.

He concluded that Gyokeres might leave unless the club receives a package that reflects his market value, positioning him as one of the top forwards in the game.

Viktor Gyokeres could soon join Arsenal’s attacking lineup