Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres is a man in demand ahead of the summer with Arsenal being strongly linked with a move for the Swedish ace – and Joao Palhinha has given his verdict on him.
There is one gaping hole in a near-perfect Arsenal side at the moment and it is the lack of a goalscoring striker. Kai Havertz has scored a few goals recently, while Gabriel Jesus is struggling to start for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard have all regularly contributed in front of goal – but the difference between Arsenal and Man City, is a goal machine in the final third.
Recently, reports said that Arsenal are the ‘most-likely’ side to sign 25-year-old Gyokeres. He has a release clause of £85m in his Sporting contract, as per reports. He is certainly a goal machine, at least in Portugal.
Arsenal eyeing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, could cost £85m
Joining Sporting last summer from Championship side Coventry City, Gyokeres has sparkled for Sporting – scoring a massive 36 goals in 39 games – laying on 14 assists. He has 50 goals and assists this season.
Little surprise then, that clubs are becoming interested in landing the Swedish star this summer. Arsenal are among the contenders to land his signature – and he may be the final piece in Mikel Arteta’s jigsaw.
With plenty of clubs after Gyokeres from his old side Sporting, Fulham midfielder Palhinha shared what he has made of the striker – and what he’s told friends. He says Gyokeres to earn Sporting a lot of money.
“Gyokeres? They were all distracted, a little asleep. I’ve already told people close to me I don’t understand how a player of Gyokeres’ quality, the physical power he has, I think would fit well in any team in England.
“Sporting managed to sign him, thank goodness because he’s been an asset. Valuable. His performance has been very high. Sporting will certainly make a lot of money,” he told O Jogo, as per Desporto Sapo.
Gyokeres could be the last ingredient in Arteta’s Arsenal potion
The Gunners need a goal machine. Jesus has never been that kind of player and Havertz has played out wide or as a no.10 during his career – certainly not as a striker. Gyokeres gives Arsenal a new dimension.
Reports say that Arsenal have decided they want to sign Gyokeres more than Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney this summer. Whether Arsenal are willing to splash the best part of £100m, remains to be seen.
Right now, Gyokeres will be focused on winning the league – the second time Ruben Amorim will have done since taking over at Sporting. They are also in the semi-finals of the Portuguese Cup.
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