Victor or Viktor? Arsenal choose their next striker

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 14 Aug 2024 01:03 CDT
3 min read

Arsenal have ended their interest in Victor Osimhen and are now fully pursuing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

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That is according to Corriere dello Sport, which reports that Arsenal have decided that the Sporting Lisbon star is the striker who they want to sign before the end of the transfer window.

The Gunners have made the signing of a natural number nine their priority for the summer transfer window.

Their number one target had been Benjamin Sesko, but a transfer fell through when the Slovenia star chose to renew his contract with RB Leipzig.

Arsenal turned their attention elsewhere, and the two most established names on their shortlist have been Napoli’s Osimhen and Sporting’s Gyokeres.

Both players are very expensive and this has been a reason why Arsenal are still yet to get close to signing either of them.

Corriere now reports that Arsenal have ended their interest in Osimhen, who is deemed far too expensive as Napoli are demanding at least €100 million. The Nigerian is now more likely to join Chelsea.

© IMAGO - Osimhen is too expensive for Arsenal

Instead, Arsenal are actively pursuing Gyokeres. The Sweden star is also very expensive at around €70m or more, but is far cheaper than Osimhen in transfer fee and salary.

Arsenal will now step up talks with Gyokeres and Sporting to see if a deal can be done. But that price will have to come down if the Gunners are to bring the Swede to London.

© IMAGO - Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Lisbon

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

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.

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

He started the new Primeira Liga season with a goal in the first match of the campaign.