Arteta and Berta need a strikerArteta and Berta need a striker
Arteta and Berta need a striker | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal are said to have decided on their prime striker target ahead of the summer.
Arsenal are said to have decided on their prime striker target ahead of this summer. The Gunners undoubtedly need to sign a striker this summer having resisted bringing in a new forward over recent times.
It seemed obvious that Mikel Arteta needed to sign a new striker in January after Gabriel Jesus was lost to injury, but Arsenal could not find a suitable candidate, and just a week after the window, they lost Kai Havertz for the majority of the season. That situation played a key role in unravelling Arsenal’s Premier League title bid, and it’s not one Arteta is likely to risk again.
New sporting director Andrea Berta is going to have to add depth at a number of positions this summer, particularly if the Gunners want to make up the gap between themselves and Liverpool. But there is little doubt that Arsenal need to prioritise a striker, albeit with Martin Zubimendi looking to arrive from Real Sociedad first.
A number of strikes have been linked, and Arteta seems to like RB Leizpig’s Benjamin Sesko, but according to Football Insider, Sporting CP frontman Viktor Gyokeres is the chosen primary target. They say the Gunners are ‘prioritising’ the Sweden international, who already has experience in England.
Gyokeres spent time at Brighton, although he never made a Premier League appearance, spending time on loan with Swansea City and Coventry City, and ultimately joining the latter permanently. The striker went on to score 38 goals in 91 league appearances for the Sky Blues, bagging a move to Sporting. Since then, he has scored an incredible 67 goals in 65 league games.
It’s reported Gyokeres will cost around £60million despite having a release clause worth £85million. The striker has also been linked with Manchester United having previously worked well with Ruben Amorim, but he may well want to join a club where he can realistically compete for titles in the near future.
Gyokeres and Sporting chief respond to transfer rumours
In one of his most recent responses to transfer links, Gyokeres continued to dismiss rumours. “I like Lisbon,” he said. “I can’t say anything about that. No one can predict what will happen, we enjoy the moment.”
Sporting chief Rui Borges has also been asked about the situation, and he took a pretty relaxed approach, vowing to find another talented striker if and when Gyokeres moves on from the Portuguese capital.
“I’m not focused on next season but rather the next two and a half months,” Borges said. “Viktor is important to Sporting, we’re not shying away from that. He’s been important and not just to me. He has been for a while.
“I’m happy to count on him, to work with him, for everything he is from an athlete to a person and for what he gives every day. He’s an example of being rigorous in training, of doing everything we ask and tell him to do. I’m happy to be able to enjoy him while he’s here. When he’s not, we’ll find another Viktor Gyokeres.”
There is not likely to be much movement over the coming weeks, with Sporting currently top of the table and just goal difference above rivals Benfica. Gyokeres and Sporting will want to focus on the task at hand.
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