'We'll see...' - £85m Arsenal transfer target drops major hint on potential January switch

The Arsenal transfer target Viktor Gyokeres has opened up on the continuous links between himself and the Gunners, dropping a huge hint surrounding the potential for a future transfer to N7.

The Gunners had supposedly been eyeing a move for a new striker in the recently finished transfer window, with 26-year-old Gyokeres one such target. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen; ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney and Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins were all thought to be others on the list as well but Deadline Day passed with no new striker acquired.

One such reason for Arsenal not going after the 26-year-old ex-Coventry star was his €100m (£85m) release clause with Sporting Lisbon evidently valuing him as one of their most prized assets. He has been on exceptionally impressive form since moving to Sporting in 2023 in a deal worth £20m and scored 50 goals in 55 games, contributing with 18 assists too.

His 2023/24 tally followed a similarly impressive 43 goals and 17 assists in 116 games for the Championship side and now a potential move back to the EFL is on the cards with the 26-year-old not ruling out a January switch.

The Gunners are said to have been keeping a close eye on his development in Portugal and seemingly gearing themselves up for a move that is still yet to happen despite looking likely during the summer.

Now, however, Gyokeres himself as weighed in on the subject, teasing Arsenal fans by saying ‘we’ll see what happens next window.’

Speaking to Sport Bladet, via SportWitness, the Swedish sensation said: “They (Sporting) wanted most of the starting players to stay and held us tight. That’s how it turned out, but I enjoy Sporting very much, so for me it was no problem to stay,” he said.

“Of course. You want to play at the highest level. It (his £85m release clause) was probably a bit too much because nothing came of it. Of course it’s a lot of money. But we’ll see what happens next window…

“Nothing happened and it feels like I had a pretty good season. So yes, that’s probably why there was simply no move. But that’s what Sporting thinks I’m worth, and then you have to respect that.

“I enjoy myself very much in Sporting and can’t complain about anything, so it’s absolutely no problem for me to stay. Of course, you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.”

While Arsenal signed defender Riccardo Calafiori; midfielder Mikel Merino and winger Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea, no striker was brought to the Emirates with Gunners’ fans now being forced to wait four months before the next acquisition can take place.