Arsenal have made a £10 million-per-year contract offer to a Real Madrid and Barcelona transfer target, according to reports, with sporting director Andrea Berta attempting to beat the Spanish heavyweights to his signature.
Arsenal focus on summer transfers after sealing Champions League spot
Mikel Arteta guided his side to a 1-0 win over Newcastle United in their final home game of the season last weekend, with Declan Rice scoring the match-winning goal and sealing Arsenal's place in the Champions League draw next term.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts Related
[Mikel Arteta "loves" £161k-per-week Barcelona star and wants him at Arsenal](https://www.footballfancast.com/mikel-arteta-loves-ferran-torres-and-wants-him-at-arsenal/ "Mikel Arteta "loves" £161k-per-week Barcelona star and wants him at Arsenal")
The 43-year-old is a huge fan.
With Arsenal's season effectively over in terms of something to play for, attention is swiftly turning to the summer transfer window, and how Berta will reinforce Arteta's squad ahead of next campaign.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
This follows a promising statement from Arteta in the aftermath of Berta's official arrival in late March, with Arsenal's manager promising a "big" first summer window under the Italian's leadership.
"It’s going to be a big summer for everybody," said Arteta after Arsenal's win over Newcastle.
mikel-arteta-arsenal-premier-league
"I think it’s time to reflect, reset, and set again the standards even higher, see how we can improve, be very critical with each of us and the things that we can do better, and how we can help this football club to go to another level.
"What I can promise is that I will do my very best [to win a trophy] and I will give my life, and get every drop of everybody here to squeeze it and get the best out of them."
One of the items on Berta's transfer to-do list is the signing of a proven goalscoring striker who can guarantee a degree of potency in the final third, with Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres at the centre of links to a north London move.
viktor-gyokeres-sporting-club
The Swede has bagged 53 goals across 51 appearances in all competitions this term, leaving little wonder that Man United are also very keen on Gyokeres as well.
However, reports in Portugal have been making serious claims that Arsenal are the side who are advancing in serious pursuit of the 26-year-old.
Arsenal make Viktor Gyokeres a £10m-per-year offer to join Mikel Arteta
Newspaper O Jogo reported earlier this week that Arsenal have already agreed a £59 million fee with Sporting over signing Gyokeres, following rumours last week from A Bola that Arteta's side have also offered him a contract.
A Bola stated at the time that Arsenal's offer to Gyokeres was one worth around £135,000-per-week, but this is now being disputed by CaughtOffside.
Arsenal-Viktor-Gyokeres
The latter news outlet claims Arsenal have actually presented a contract offer to Gyokeres worth up to £10 million-per-year, which comes in at around £192,000-per-week, and seems more fitting for a striker who's been scoring for fun these past two seasons.
As such, Arsenal are said to be leading the race, but that isn't to say it is a done deal. CaughtOffside also share information that Gyokeres is being targeted by Real Madrid and Barcelona, not to mention a host of other top sides, so Arteta and Berta do face stiff competition to get him over the line.
Goalkeeper David Raya is already a fan of the centre-forward, having called him a "top player" earlier this season, and many believe he could be the answer to Arsenal's lack of ruthlessness in the final third.