Arsenal are leading the chase to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres in the upcoming summer transfer window, according to report. The Swede striker has had an impressive first season in Portugal playing for Sporting. This has made the Gunners take an intense interest in him.
Ahead of the summer transfer window, the North Londoners are scouting every possible candidate, evaluating their options before zeroing in on the perfect prospect to fill the number 9 position. The vital contribution of Erling Haaland in helping Manchester City secure the treble last season has made Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta understand the importance of having a traditional striker in the squad.
However, the Gunners are debunking all the speculations that they can’t make good in the Premier League without a traditional number 9 as Arenal are the highest goal-scoring team and are mounting a forceful challenge for the Premier Leeague title.
According to the Sports Witness, the North Londoners are not the only ones interested in acquiring the services of 25-year-old Gyokeres. Italian giants AC Milan are also tracking the striker. The report claims that AC Milan are hoping to use club consultant and Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic to influence the Green and White to sell the 25-year-old to them.
It would certainly be challenging for Milan to compete head-on against the financial power of the Gunners. The reports of The Hard Tackle suggest that Arsenal will have to pay €100 million for Viktor Gyokeres. But, there are FFP and PSR regulations which make it doubtful. Also, Mikel Arteta needs to sign midfielders, goalkeepers, and defenders in the summer transfer window. So, spending this much amount of money on a single player is probably not on the cards.
The Swedish striker is in great form and is showing the capability of playing for big clubs and in big leagues. Sporting CP have analyzed very well the demand and the worth of their striker. Thereupon, they have set a hefty price tag in the excess of €50million (£43m). It was just last summer when the Portuguese club signed Gyokeres from Coventry City for a fee of just €20 million (£17m). If this deal happens then the Green and Whites will make a huge profit in the turn of just one season from the sale of the striker.
The 25-year-old has great stats playing for Sporting. He has scored 36 goals in 39 games (stats via Transfermarkt) and emerged as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and in the league as well. With his charismatic performance, he has helped Sporting to compete with the likes of Benfica and FC Porto for the Primeira Liga title.
Gyokeres responded when asked about the speculations of joining Europe’s top teams (via Football.London):
“It’s a sign that I’ve been performing well, but it’s not something I take too seriously.
‘It’s just speculation, but it’s good and fun to talk about.
‘We’ll see what happens in the summer, I don’t know what will happen. But I really like Sporting and I don’t feel stressed at all for what’s to come.”
See More:
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- Arsenal to Offer Record-Breaking Deal to Highly-Rated Hale End Graduate, Mikel Arteta Ready to Include Him in His Plans
- Aston Villa Preparing Summer Move for €20m Rated On-Loan Arsenal Defender, Unai Emery Eyeing Reunion
Let’s see where Sporting CP finish at the end of the season and whether it has an effect on Viktor Gyokeres’s future. The Swede’s numbers are truly astounding and do warrant close attention. A player capable of producing comparable figures on a regular basis will be an asset for any big club.
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