Arsenal vs Chelsea for Gyokeres as rivals pull out of transfer

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 16 Jul 2024 11:54 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal and Chelsea are the only two teams standing for Victor Gyokeres this summer after Napoli pulled out of the race to sign the Sporting Lisbon striker.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna labelled the chances of his club signing Gyokeres as “impossible”.

The 2023 Italian champions have decided to sign Romelu Lukaku as their replacement for Victor Osimhen, who will be sold this summer.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2023/24: Who is Europe’s leading striker?

Both Arsenal and Chelsea, who have also been linked to Osimhen, are now the only two big teams with a realistic chance of signing Gyokeres this summer.

The Gunners are in the market for a top striker this summer and have returned to the drawing board after failing to secure their top target, Benjamin Sesko.

Gyokeres is one of the alternative options for Arsenal, who have been following the Sporting Lisbon striker for several months.

Chelsea are also looking to sign a new number 9 after years of struggling to find a consistent goalscorer.

Gyokeres is one of the main names on their striker shortlist, too.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Gyokeres has a €100 million release clause in his Sporting Lisbon contract.

Arsenal and Chelsea have no intention to pay such a huge amount but they would be open to negotiate a much smaller fee.

Sporting are likely to lower their demands as they recognise it is impossible to sell for that fee.

Gyokeres in 2023-24

Gyokeres scored a sensational 43 goals in 50 games in all competitions for Portuguese champions Sporting this past season.

His 29 league goals means he finished the season as Primeira Liga top scorer.

Gyokeres has been a revelation ever since joining Sporting Lisbon from Coventry for €20 million plus €4m in bonuses last summer.