Arsenal is approaching the completion of the contract to recruit striker Viktor Gyokeres, after completing the final negotiations with Sporting.
The long -term negotiations because Sporting's Presidento Varandas president refused to accept the price that Gyokeres believed that it was agreed in advance: 60 million euros plus 10 million euros.
However, Arsenal's offer has now surpassed that number, in which, the Gunners prepared 63.5 million euros with 10 million euros. The Premier League representative has officially promoted the terms and deals that are coming to an end.
Gyokeres has not returned to focus on the season with Sporting because he wants to be transferred to the Premier League, and a 5 -year contract with Arsenal has been prepared.
The 27 -year -old Swedish striker has emerged as Arsenal's number one target for the center. Gyokeres himself also prioritized the Gunners than every other team, while coach Mikel Arteta wanted to quickly take him back to the army.
Gyokeres joined Sporting in 2023 from Coventry City and quickly became one of the most sought after players in Europe. Last season, he scored 54 goals in 52 matches, helping Sporting win a double championship of domestic and national cup.
If the deal is successful, Gyokeres will become Arsenal's fourth rookie in the transfer window this summer, after two midfielders Martin Zubimendi (from Real Sociedad) and Christian Norgaard (Brentford), and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea). Arsenal also reached an agreement to recruit Noni Madueke winger from Chelsea.
Last season, Arsenal almost did not have a true striker when they came second in the Premier League, 10 points behind Liverpool and scoring less than 17 goals.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus played replacement at the number 9 in most of the season, but both of them were injured in January and February. At that time, midfielder Mikel Merino was pushed to play in a striker at the end of the season.
When looking at statistics, it is easy to understand why Gyokeres has attracted attention: 68 goals in the Portuguese league since he joined Sporting – more than double any other player at the same time. A notorious “assassin”, capable of strong finishing with both legs.
But Gyokeres is not only good at scoring in the penalty area. He is a model of player who is not tired, played directly, exploded and possessed abundant physical body to repeat high -speed moving phases continuously.
According to Skillcorner data compared to the strikers at the top 7 leagues in Europe, Gyokeres often run behind the defense, or widen to the border to break the defensive structure and then break through the middle to finish.
However, the Premier League is another challenge. Although Gyokeres is physically able to confront top central defenders, he may not have much space like at Sporting, especially in a famous Arsenal who controls the ball and built a slow gameplay. In addition, Gyokeres is not strong in the air. Last season, he did not score at the beginning of the domestic league.
Even so, Gyokeres is still a “monster”: a true goalscorer, a durable, booming and sharp player to turn half the chance into a goal. If teams in the Premier League think they have caught Arteta's Arsenal cards, then this contract will open a completely new direction for their play.
Gyokeres launched the Swedish team since the age of 20 and had 26 caps on the national team, scoring 15 goals.