Arsenal raise €70m to sign goal machine

Carlo Garganese

31 Jul 2024 08:00 CDT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Arsenal are close to raising the cash needed to sign top striker target Viktor Gyokeres.

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The Gunners are in talks to sell Eddie Nketiah to Marseille for around €20 million. Reiss Nelson is also in talks with Leicester City - with interest from West Ham - with Arsenal hoping to get around €15m.

The revenue raised from these sales will be used to bid for Sporting Lisbon star Gyokeres.

FootballTransfers revealed this week that Arsenal are willing to pay roughly €60 million (£52m) for Gyokeres.

We are told that the Sporting CP sharpshooter still tops the Gunners' shortlist of striker options, though a sizeable gap in valuation remains.

Sporting are no longer holding out for the Swede's €100m release clause to be paid in full, but they still want at least around €70m (£60m).

Chelsea are still interested in Gyokeres also, but it is Arsenal who are ready to up the ante now.

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 has now emerged as the top alternative for Arsenal, who have been following the Sporting Lisbon striker for several months.

© IMAGO - Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon

Arsenal move for Gyokeres

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Gyokeres can bring the team the goals they have missed from the number nine position in the last two seasons.

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.

Arteta has been forced to often use Kai Havertz in an unnatural striker role this past season.

While Gabriel Jesus has impressed over the last two seasons in his overall play, he has not proved to be prolific enough for a team who wants to win the Premier League and challenge for the Champions League.

Jesus has just 19 goals in 69 appearances for Arsenal, a total that Gyokeres more than doubled this past season alone for Sporting Lisbon.

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