Arsenal will now have their scouts in attendance when Sporting CP host SL Benfica in the Lisbon derby this Thursday night to watch striker transfer target Viktor Gyokeres.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season since switching the English second-tier for Portugal’s top-flight last July. Gyokeres has flourished as a Sporting player and has taken Ruben Amorim’s side to second in the table behind their rivals, who sit just two points clear.
But Gyokeres’ campaign has caught the attention of many top European clubs with a host of sides planning scouting trips. That is according to A Bola, which claims that Arsenal’s scouts will be beside talent spotters from around the continent to review Gyokeres against Benfica.
Arsenal and AC Milan will scout Gyokeres for Sporting vs Benfica
Arsenal will be on the front line alongside AC Milan, too, as both teams position themselves to target strikers. Mikel Arteta is determined to bolster the Emirates Stadium natives’ attack this summer. Gyokeres is among their potential targets with Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen.
Chelsea have also shown an interest in Gyokeres since the striker left Coventry City to thrive at Sporting. He has scored 30 goals in 33 games for the Leoes and has also laid on 11 assists in all competitions. Gyokeres has scored 17 and assisted seven in 21 Liga Portugal matches.
A Bola does not cite Chelsea as sending scouts alongside Arsenal and AC Milan to check on Gyokeres against Benfica. But it reports that the Rossoneri are willing to spend €60m (£51m) for the 19-cap Sweden star. However, Sporting want his €100m (£86m) release clause in full.
Gyokeres ‘did not care’ about any interest in his January transfer
AC Milan have identified Gyokeres as a target for this summer with Paris Saint-Germain now considering targeting Rafael Leao. But the San Siro side may have to rival Arsenal and a host of top European teams. Arsenal have had their eyes on Gyokeres’ transfer for some months.
Reports by Correio da Manha in December suggested Arsenal and Chelsea eyed a January transfer for Gyokeres. It further noted that Leoes boss Amorim feared his side could lose the forward as he lost confidence in the €100m (£86m) clause putting clubs off a winter move.
Gyokeres only cost Sporting an initial €20m (£17.5m), plus €4m (£3.5m) in add-ons, to sign from Coventry last summer. But the Sky Blues also included a 15% sell-on clause to let their star striker manager Mark Robins called ‘unbelievable’ leave after reaching the play-off final.
The Stockholm native took Coventry to Wembley with 21 goals and 10 assists in 46 regular-season Championship games last term. He also added two assists in the play-offs, including one also at Wembley. But Gyokeres was not interested in returning to England this January.
“I’m very happy here and I don’t care about any interested parties, at the moment,” former Brighton striker Gyokeres told Record. “I’m enjoying every day here and not thinking about what’s going on around me. Yes, there’s talk of big clubs. But, for now, it’s just news.”