Arsenal fans have now been informed as to why no progress has been made by the club towards securing a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal are certainly keen to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer.
Mikel Arteta wants to add a striker to his ranks at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have already tried to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer. However, the Slovenian sensation rejected the Gunners, preferring to extend his stay with RB Leipzig.
Since then, Arsenal have pivoted their attention to seeking a deal for Gyokeres. The 20-cap Sweden international is currently plying his trade for Sporting, and has been in prolific form for the Portuguese outfit.
Last season, the 26-year-old racked up an astonishing 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 appearances, across all competitions, for Sporting.
Of course, there is a difference in standards between the Premier League and the Portuguese top flight. Even coming close to replicating that kind of return in the highest level of English football represents an enormous challenge, and would be the task facing Gyokeres were he to make the switch to North London.
He has played on these shores before, though, across spells in the Championship with Swansea City and Coventry City, the latter of which was especially successful. He is also now entering what ought to be the prime years of his career.
Gyokeres also has all the attributes needed to thrive for Arsenal. He blends power, physicality, and speed, meaning that he offers a number of ways to worry opposition defenders. He is also technically secure, can hold up the ball and bring teammates into play, and is a clinical finisher. Gyokeres has been described as “unplayable” in the past.
However, there is still one thing preventing Arsenal from trying to push a deal over the line.
Fabrizio Romano provides update on Arsenal pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, speaking to GiveMeSport, has now revealed where the Gunners currently stand on finalising a deal for the forward: “For Gyokeres, Sporting still want a release clause. They want a package of €100m (£85m) for Viktor Gyokeres.
“This is an expensive deal, and this is why Arsenal have shown interest in the recent months but, at the moment, are still not advancing, because they want to understand how much is going to be the final package.
“We know that sometimes, in the market, the price can change. In June, you have a price, and then in July and August, it can change. So let’s see what Arsenal will decide to do.”
Mikel Arteta playing risky game with Gyokeres deal
There is a chance that Sporting could drop their asking price towards the end of the window. However, as things stand, the Portuguese club are unlikely to be feeling any great pressure to sell and would presumably be very happy to keep the player.
Of course, Gyokeres himself could change the situation and make things more difficult for his current club by actively and publicly pushing for a move.
For now, though, Arteta is taking a real risk, as the longer he delays making a deal, then the more time other suitors have to swoop in and secure the striker’s signature for themselves.
