Viktor Gyokeres is set on a move to Arsenal and has informed those close to him that a transfer to the Emirates is his preferred next step this summer.
The Swedish striker has become one of the hottest properties in European football after an extraordinary campaign for Sporting Lisbon, in which he netted an incredible 54 goals across 52 appearances, helping secure a league and cup double for the Portuguese side.
Arsenal have long been tracking the 27-year-old and are now in pole position to land his signature, despite rival interest from Manchester United, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus. United had reportedly tabled a lucrative offer, hoping to lure Gyokeres into becoming the central figure in their rebuilding attack, but the player remains focused on joining a Champions League contender.
Sporting are holding out for a fee close to £59 million and are in no rush to sell, especially with ongoing tensions between club president Frederico Varandas and Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya. Despite the absence of a formal release clause agreement, the striker remains confident a deal can be reached.
According to talkSPORT, Gyokeres has privately shared with friends and family that they should expect to see him in an Arsenal shirt next season. The Gunners’ opening offer of £46.8 million was rejected, but they are expected to return with an improved bid.
Gyokeres has been measured in his public statements, recently telling fans on Instagram, “There is a lot of talk, most of it is false. I’ll speak when the time is right.”
Should Arsenal fail to secure the Swede, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko remains on their shortlist. However, the Bundesliga club are demanding over £70 million for the Slovenian forward, and interest from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal complicates the race.
Sesko’s agent, Elvis Basanovic, dismissed rumours that they are forcing Leipzig’s hand:
“We won’t push. Respect for the club is everything, and we’ll only leave when the right project presents itself.”
He added that the player would not leave unless the project matched his ambitions, hinting that staying in Germany remains a valid option if the right club doesn’t materialize.
With Arsenal determined to land a marquee No.9 this summer after another season without silverware, the club may soon be ready to meet Sporting’s valuation and finally bring Gyokeres to the Premier League.