Arsenal move ‘likeliest outcome’ for star who could CHANGE EVERYTHING

Robin Bairner

4 Nov 2024 06:47 GMT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes have taken a hit in recent weeks due to defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle, with Mikel Arteta’s side going three without winning in the top-flight.

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A lack of firepower has cost them dearly, with the injury-hit Gunners drawing blanks in their last two away matches, leading to questions over the depth of their attacking talent.

Arsenal were linked with a string of strikers in the summer, but refused to do deals because they felt the asking price on each was too high. Among those they enquired after were Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who was even their primary transfer target until it was made clear that his club intended to hold out for his full €100 million release fee.

Gyokeres has since gone on to score 20 goals in 16 games this season, making him one of Europe’s most prolific forwards, and TeamTalk reports that the “most likely” outcome for the striker is that he winds up at Arteta’s outfit.

STATS

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

16

Games
20

Goals
4

Assists

Barcelona building interesting bid

Manchester United have also been associated with the Sweden international in recent days due to the imminent arrival of Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, but The Sun dismisses this possibility, claiming that he does not want to follow his coach to Old Trafford. He believes Amorim is the "only positive aspect" of a "chaos club".

Amorim has been backed to replicate the success he has had with Gyokeres with Rasmus Hojlund in any case.

© IMAGO - Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal, Man Utd and Barcelona all linked

Barcelona, meanwhile, are said to be increasingly interested in the forward.

The Camp Nou club are seeking to manufacture a part-exchange deal for the forward, whose valuation Sporting CP are said to have dropped to €70m. This puts him in range for Barca, who will include Vitor Roque in any deal in a bid to drive that figure down further, according to A Bola.

Sporting tried to sign the teenage Brazilian in the summer, with Barca unhappy with his performances.

TeamTalk, however, reports that Sporting’s valuation of Gyokeres has not budged an inch, which puts Arsenal in pole position to land the 26-year-old hitman.