Real Madrid overtake Arsenal for €100m Galactico

Carlo Garganese

11 Sep 2024 08:45 CDT
3 min read

Real Madrid have joined the race to sign Sporting Lisbon and Sweden sensation Viktor Gyokeres.

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Gyokeres is the hottest striking property around right now and has made an incredible start to the new season, already scoring 10 goals and making five assists in all competitions for club and country.

This follows on from his brilliant form from last season for Sporting where he scored 43 goals in all competitions for his club.

Arsenal are long-term admirers of Gyokeres and turned to him this summer after missing out on first target Benjamin Sesko.

However, they could not agree on a transfer fee with Sporting, who have placed a €100 million release clause in Gyokeres’ contract.

Earlier this week it emerged that Barcelona want Gyokeres to be the long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski.

And now, according to widespread reports in Portugal, Real Madrid have joined the race.

Madrid plan to belatedly sign a number 9 to replace Karim Benzema, who left Real Madrid a year ago to move to Saudi Arabia.

Gyokeres is seen as the ideal target to complement the class of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe.

Indeed, it is reported they could move as early as January.

The news comes as a blow to Arsenal, who still want to ideally sign a natural number 9 in 2025.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer news

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 meant 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.

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

While Gabriel Jesus has impressed over the last two years 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 70 appearances for Arsenal, a total that Gyokeres more than doubled last season alone for Sporting Lisbon.