Exclusive: Arsenal target tipped to complete 'massive' transfer and emulate Erling Haaland

Bence Bocsák

Updated: 13 Jun 2024 14:20 BST
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal striker targets — © IMAGO

With Benjamin Sesko opting to stay at RB Leipzig this summer, Arsenal have been forced into exploring alternative options as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his forward line.

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One of those potential alternatives could be Viktor Gyokeres. The Sporting CP forward has been on Arsenal's radar since the beginning of the summer.

Football Transfers has reported that Gyokeres was keen on a move to the Gunners. However, the club are unwilling to pay his release clause, which is why Arsenal ended up making a move for Sesko instead.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will now look to explore a move for Gyokeres, althoughGiveMeSport has reported that he is still on the club's radar.

Meanwhile, Football Transfers has spoken to Dalibor Savic - Gyokeres' former coach at Brommapojkarna - about whether a move to the Premier League would suit the Swedish forward.

"Going to a big club in England that’s the highest status you can achieve. It doesn’t matter if it’s Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal – all of those clubs are massive clubs with supporters all around the world. I think if you go to a club like that and play, you would be sure to score goals," Savic told Football Transfers.

© IMAGO - Gyokeres is one of Europe's most in-form strikers

Savic also likened his former protege to another Scandinavian forward who has been scoring goals for fun in the Premier League.

“I think he’s good enough. He will get there. They will need to have patience with him. So if you’re just on the pitch, you will score. Hopefully, he will crush it like Haaland is doing in Manchester City."

Although Savic admitted Gyokeres still has a long way to go to reach the legacy of Swedish legend, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“He’s his own player. Maybe the younger generation will want to be someone like Gyokeres," Savic said.

"The biggest of them all is of course Zlatan Ibrahimovic and then we had Henrik Larsson. I think those two are definitely in front of him still. I would say maybe he is currently in the top ten, but maybe not in the top five but he still has a couple of years to play so maybe he can reach the second or third. But reaching the level of Ibrahimovic is impossible I think for any Swedish player to reach."

Savic also added that he would like to see his former player lift the Premier League title one day.

"I would love to see him in a top five club in England, staying there for a couple of years to be a player who carries the team. Winning the league in England and playing for the Swedish national team to take them to the European Championships and the World Cup."

Whether Gyokeres can fulfil that ambition at Arsenal remains to be seen. He is certainly one player to keep an eye on this summer.