Arsenal have reportedly closed in on securing the services of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has been touted as a replacement for Kai Havertz.
Gunners were said to have held an interest in bringing Aston Villa number nine Ollie Watkins to the Emirates in January 2025, but a move ultimately failed to materialise.
Mikel Arteta’s side went on to lose the Premier League title that season to Liverpool, and many fans highlighted the January window as a missed opportunity.
The club will almost certainly avoid making the same mistake this summer amid reports linking them to a number of strikers.
Bringing in a new centre-forward has been a top priority this summer, with Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko their two top targets.
And now Football Insider claims that Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Gyokeres, with the Gunners growing confident that a deal will be completed.
Football Insider‘s senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke reveals:
“My understanding is that his representatives were in Portugal for showdown talks with Sporting Lisbon to try and thrash this deal out.
“There is a growing optimism from his side and from Arsenal that they can get it over the line. The Sweden international has been one of Arsenal’s top targets this summer.
“Gyokeres is the clear favourite now to make that move to the Emirates Stadium. There’s been a bit of an ongoing row between Gyokeres and Sporing in recent weeks.
“It’s been claimed he could go on strike because he feels they’ve gone back on a gentleman’s agreement to let him leave for below his release clause.
“No deal is done until it’s done, but there is a growing optimism Arsenal are finally going to get Gyokeres as their new number nine next season.
“It’s just a matter of trying to thrash out a fee with Sporting. It would be a huge signing for Arsenal because that’s an area that has been lacking under Arteta.”
According to Fichajes, Arsenal have tabled an offer of £60m for Sporting striker Gyokeres, with a five-year contract being worked on behind the scenes.
Gyokeres had an outstanding season last term, scoring over 50 goals and helping his side clinch the title, which has sparked interest from several clubs for a possible summer transfer. The Gunners and Manchester United are among the Premier League teams keen on securing his services.
Despite Sporting’s efforts to retain their star player, Gyokeres has expressed his desire to explore new opportunities. Reports in Europe suggest that Suarez is Sporting’s preferred choice to fill the void he would leave in their attacking line-up for the 2025-26 season.
Recall, Softfootball had previously reported that Arsenal has stepped up pursuit of Cristhian Mosquera as Valencia struggle to keep Spanish sensation.
Arsenal’s interest in Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera has been well established, with the Gunners viewing the 21-year-old Spanish centre-back as a key asset for both the present and the future.
This is yet another twist in a long-running transfer saga for the North London club. However, Valencia are not giving up easily. The Spanish outfit has offered Mosquera a contract extension in a bid to keep hold of the promising defender for the foreseeable future.
