Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Viktor Gyokeres, who’s responded to the speculation after helping Sporting Lisbon win the Primeira Liga title
Viktor Gyokeres has broken his silence after Arsenal made him their No.1 transfer target. Gyokeres, 26, scored his 53rd goal of the season on Saturday to help Sporting Lisbon clinch the Primeira Liga title.
The Sweden international has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and reports from Portugal claim that he’s already agreed personal terms with the Gunners. Mikel Arteta wants to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and Gyokeres is top of Arsenal’s wish-list which also includes RB Lezipig hotshot Benjamin Sesko.
Mirror Football reported earlier this week that the Gunners have been told that Gyokeres is theirs for £60milion, although they could face competition from Manchester United. The former Coventry City and Brighton striker is expected to play his final game for the Portuguese champions next Sunday when Sporting face rivals Benfica in the domestic cup final.
Gyokeres has remained coy on throughout the season, regularly batting away questions about his future. Amid Sporting’s title celebrations, he once again refused to be drawn and didn’t rule out staying in Lisbon for another season.
“It’s football, I’m still here,” the Swede told the Sport TV via Record. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody can predict the future.”
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His comments come after ex-Arsenal striker Julio Baptista revealed that the Gunners’ new sporting director, Andrea Berta, had Gyokeres ‘on his radar’ at former club Atletico Madrid. “The boy has incredible numbers,” Baptista told Foot Italia.
“45 games, 44 goals, 11 assists (now 51 games, 53 goals, 12 assists). Arsenal are one of the teams that are supposed to be really interested in him, and I can see why.
“I think the new sporting director, Andrea Berta, really likes him; he was on his radar when he was the sporting director at Atletico Madrid.”
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Sporting president Frederico Varandas, meanwhile, has grown tired of the speculation surrounding Gyokeres. “Gyokeres was leaving in the summer, a year ago, a year and a half ago… Gyokeres was going to leave, anyway. We were champions and he was already leaving,” Varandas is quoted as saying by A Bola in February.
“In January, it was impossible and it remained so. I’m not going to add to it, it’s already very media-driven and it’s not worth talking about the summer market.”
Arsenal have a number of alternatives to Gyokeres, with 21-year-old Sesko valued around the same price by Leipzig. Ipswich striker Liam Delap would be a cheaper option thanks to his £30m release clause while Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak would be far too expensive if the Gunners want to invest in other areas.
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