Forget Evan Ferguson! Arsenal must sign prolific €100m ex-Brighton striker

Tom Weber

• Updated: 8 Dec 2023 10:52 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Viktor Gyokeres and a transfer would certainly make sense.

The Gunners are in the market for a striker. Gabriel Jesus has struggled to consistently find the net in the Premier League and Eddie Nketiah has often flattered to deceive. As FootballTransfers has revealed, the Gunners would be willing to sacrifice the latter for an elite striker in January.

The likes of Ivan Toney, Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic, who is Mikel Arteta's priority target, have all been mentioned, while FootballTransfers reported in the summer that Evan Ferguson is also an option for 2024. However, in recent times, another name has cropped up.

From a current Brighton man in Ferguson to a former Seagulls player, the Gunners are now being touted as an option for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede was signed from Coventry in the summer and boasts a €100 million release clause in Portugal.

Having already notched 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions so far this term, Gyokers is said to be monitored by the north London club and Newcastle, with both impressed by what the ex-Brighton man offers in terms of his playstyle.

Why a Gyokeres deal makes sense

While 19-year-old Ferguson has a much higher potential than the 25-year-old Gyokeres, the Swede would be a much, much better fit for Arsenal at this stage in his career than the young Irishman, according to data experts SciSports.

In fact, the Gunners would be Gyokeres' ideal next club. Gyokeres is the textbook definition of a mobile striker, with his speed being one of his biggest assets. His physical attributes make him an ideal forward for English football, hence why he thrived at Coventry in the Championship.

According to SciSports' Career Advice tool, the 25-year-old has a Club Fit rating of 83 at Arsenal, a score the Gunners share with Barcelona and Real Madrid, closely followed by the likes of Man City and PSG, illustrating how highly the Swede is rated.

The only concern SciSports have about Gyokeres in north London is when it comes to playing time, but these fears would of course be alleviated by Eddie Nketiah leaving, something that, as mentioned, would need to happen in order for Arsenal to be able to match the Sporting sharpshooter's release clause.

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