Arsenal land transfer boost as Gunners 'close in' on big-money striker target

Arsenal have been handed a further boost in their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres with his departure from the Portuguese club now ‘almost certain’ after he helped them to win the league title over the weekend.

According to the most recent report from the Portuguese news outlet Jornal de Noticias, Arsenal are named as the main contenders for the Swedish 25-year-old’s signature. It goes on to add that the Gunners sent scouts to nearly all of Sporting’s games this season and have been ‘very impressed’ with what the striker has shown.

The 25-year-old forward also refused to confirm where he was set to end up next year in a post-match interview, following Sporting’s 3-0 win over Portimonense, the third goal being scored by Gyokeres.

“Stay next season? It’s football, it’s normal, I can’t promise anything”, Gyokeres said, as quoted by A Bola. “I really like being here, but in football everything happens very fast and we have to adapt. I can’t make so many predictions, it’s difficult, there are still games this season, then we will see.”

A potential hiccup for the Gunners would be the €100 million (£86m) release clause by which he is protected. Gyokeres will not be short of interest from other interested parties and it now remains to be seen whether it will be Arsenal who cough up the sum or another Premier League side.

Gyokeres joined Ruben Amorim’s side in 2023 following a two year spell with Coventry City. The deal was worth €21m and he has since racked up 41 goals and 15 assists in 47 appearances for the Portuguese side so far.

He is, of course, not the only forward that Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal selectors have had their eyes on. Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee has been a key target with the Gunners said to be challenging Serie A’s Juventus and Inter Milan for the £47m-rated star.

Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen are other candidates understood to be on the Gunners’ radar, fresh rumours have suggested the latter could favour a move to London rivals Chelsea, while England’s Toney could head east to West Ham as they prepare for a new era following David Moyes’ imminent depature.