- 17 hours ago
Arsenal to sign top transfer target: INEVITABLE Arteta will get his man
Robin Bairner
- 11 Apr 2024 08:43 BST
- 4 min read
Viktor Gyokeres will be an Arsenal player after the summer transfer window, with all the pieces sliding into place to allow the Sporting CP hitman to join the Emirates club.
The dominoes have been falling one by one, with the Sweden international poised to be the Gunners’ first signing of the summer.
With 36 goals and 15 assists this season, he has been one of European football’s outstanding forces.
READ MORE: Xavi Simons to Arsenal - How €85m Liverpool transfer can make DREAM deal become a reality
Ironically, it is Premier League title rivals Liverpool who may just help Arsenal clear the last hurdle to sign the 25-year-old former Coventry City forward.
Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya has spoken publicly to admit that his client’s future at Sporting is tied to that of head coach Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese is, of course, very close to agreeing to become Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield.
STATS
Viktor Gyökeres
F (CRL)
Sporting CP
Viktor Gyökeres
F (CRL)
Sporting CP
READ MORE: 10 players who could join Arsenal this summer
“People probably don't know, but there were eight clubs very interested in Viktor last summer,” Hasan Cetinkaya told A Bola.
“Everyone paid Coventry more than Sporting, everyone paid Viktor more, everyone paid a higher commission to the agent.
“What happened? I brought him to Sporting. And I brought him to Sporting because of Ruben Amorim, because I know his work and his work with the players. I chose Ruben because he is a coach at another level.
“Yes, it will be more difficult for Viktor to stay if Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting. Because Viktor came precisely because of Ruben.”
READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours
Gyokeres to Arsenal a matter of time
Arsenal have effectively been given the green light to make a move.
FootballTransfers has exclusively reported that the Gunners have long made Gyokeres their top summer priority.
Although Arsenal are keeping their options open regarding the goal-scoring No.9 that Mikel Arteta wants, the Swede is top of their list.
And FootballTransfers also understands that the Gunners are currently the leading priority of the Sporting striker, who rejected the chance to move to Chelsea last summer.
So nearly everyone is in agreement: Arsenal want Gyokeres and Gyokeres wants Arsenal.
Now it’s just a case of finding a price that keeps Sporting happy, though that may simply be triggering the striker’s €100m release clause.
