Arsenal have been linked with a range of strikers ahead of the summer transfer window, but it is now becoming clearer what kind of player they will target.
Links to established players such as Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney have died down, as the excellent form of Kai Havertz has meant that an expensive forward who can make an immediate impact may not be necessary anymore.
A different profile may be needed upfront to replace Eddie Nketiah, and having a quality option can help Mikel Arteta rotate his squad more next season.
This option can now be a younger attacker with the potential to improve, or it can be a gamble on a striker from outside the top five leagues, and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Club De Portugal has been named as a potential target.
However, despite his outstanding record this season, with 43 goals and 15 assists in 49 games across all competitions, a deal for the 25-year-old may now be unlikely.
Why Arsenal are unlikely to sign Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer
Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Charles Watts revealed that he has had discussions with people connected to Arsenal’s interest in the Swedish attacker, and that the likelihood was Gyokeres would be too expensive this summer.
“There are other forwards linked too, such as Viktor Gyokeres. He would be far more expensive than Benjamin Sesko. From some of the discussions I’ve had in the last couple of days, I’m not sure Gyokeres will happen or could happen,” he stated.
“I don’t think we’re gonna see a huge, huge transfer this summer in terms of financial outlay. I think we’ll see some really good transfers from Arsenal, that are going to make the squad a lot stronger, but I’m not sure we’re going to see something along the lines of potentially another Declan Rice, someone pushing that £100m mark, which Gyokeres will from the conversations I have had.”
Arsenal are no longer desperate for big-money striker
Arsenal spent a club-record fee on Declan Rice last summer, who was tasked with helping Arteta rebuild his midfield and leading the team in two different positions.
This justified his fee, and his outstanding performances have made him a bargain, but with Arsenal now settled as a team, with Havertz set to start next season as a striker, there is less desperation to sign a player who can make an immediate impact upfront like Rice did in midfield.
Gyokeres has a release clause of £86m, and despite starring for Coventry in the Championship prior to his move to Lisbon, there is still an element of risk in the signing.
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Whilst Arsenal may see the risk as one they can take, given that they will not be immediately reliant on him to succeed, the likelier outcome is that Arteta spends a lower fee on a younger striker, allowing funds to be used to strengthen the team in other positions such as midfield.