The seemingly never-ending transfer saga of Viktor Gyokeres and where he will be playing his football next season continues. After reports emerged in Portugal on Saturday - followed-up by the British press later that evening - claiming the Sweden striker had declared his preference for a move to Arsenal over Manchester United, the rollercoaster has taken another turn.
Record is reporting that Arsenal have 'frozen' their attempts to sign Gyokeres because of his price with Sporting CP wanting a reported £68 million for the 27 year-old. So, what next for the Gunners? Do they bite the bullet and go for Benjamin Sesko at RB Leipzig or try and haggle with Sporting and hope they relent and allow Gyokeres to go for a cheaper fee?
football.london's writers have had their say once and for all on what Mikel Arteta's side should do and how they can solve their striker transfer conundrum.
You can read our thoughts below...
Amie Wilson
The latest reports coming out of Portugal over the future of Gyokeres suggests that Arsenal are taking a step back.
I think that's the right thing for Arsenal to do. At £60m, Gyokeres' goalscoring record makes him a good buy, but anything over that would be then taking a chance, considering the difference in quality between the Premier League and the Portuguese league. Other players have struggled with the change in league.
With Arsenal having Sesko as another option, who may be available for a similar price, it gives Arsenal the option to walk away should Sporting not soften their stance. Sesko is younger that Gyokeres, so could be better value for money.
Walking away also sends a message to other clubs who Arsenal may deal with in the future that they won't be messed about.
Jack Flintham
The Gyokeres saga is now starting to become a distraction for Arsenal and threatens to absorb the entirety of the transfer window if the Gunners are not careful. There are question marks whether Gyokeres can even produce a fraction of the form he has enjoyed in Portugal, over in England and that should point towards giving the striker a wide berth if Sporting are unwilling to compromise on his price.
Plus, if Arsenal are to spend big on Sesko this summer, do they really need to splash good money on Gyokeres too? They do need to sign two strikers this summer but perhaps an Ollie Watkins would compliment Sesko more.
Less than £60m would be a fair price for Gyokeres considering his age and the inevitable question marks surrounding him. If Sporting are not willing to drop to that level, Arsenal are right to step aside.
Tom Coley
I am surprised that nobody has come in for Gyokeres over the past two years but I'm not surprised at how hesitant top teams have been for the price. Gyokeres has a goalscoring record which speaks for itself, but would he get those returns in England? Almost certainly not.
Whilst he is a physical monster, the speed and athleticism of Premier League defences would be superior and Gyokeres would not be able to trample over or through centre-backs like he does in Portugal. The quality and organisation of teams would make it much harder for him to bulldoze through.
Goalkeepers are better and the managers are more able to stop individuals from getting their own way. Although Gyokeres might be able to deal with these things, it is a risk and an expensive one. At 27, there is little-to-no resale value here and £60m plus mammoth wages for someone who sees themself among Europe's best is a huge total package.
Given there are younger, more mouldable alternatives on the market, it is makes sense that Arsenal are fully considering their options elsewhere first. Gyokeres is not a penalty box striker who hoovers up chances, he makes a lot himself through carrying that simply might not be on for Arteta. Even at £60m, it is too much.
Isaac Seelochan
Lots of big clubs are being linked with Gyokeres but there don't appear to be any offers and that says a lot. Even if it's early in the summer, there is something about him that clubs aren't fully convinced about and I suspect it's to do with whether he can step up to a higher level than the Portuguese top tier.
Therefore, I think Arsenal are better off going for Sesko, who has proven his class in the Champions League and Bundesliga. There won't be a huge difference in price and I think that experience at a higher level is crucial.
The Gunners could and may very well be using any potential interest in Gyokeres to negotiate a lower fee for Sesko. Either way, it's clear that the Swede is not their preferred option.
Will Jenkins
What Arsenal must avoid now is being left with nothing. If they start backing away from their strong pursuit of Gyokeres, it risks souring relations with Sporting and that could damage future transfer dealings between the two clubs.
It may also send the wrong message to RB Leipzig and Sesko. Arsenal can't afford to leave top striker targets in limbo, especially when navigating complex, high-stakes deals like these.
That said, I do believe stepping back is the right move - if the price is too high, then it's too high. Arsenal shouldn't allow themselves to be held to ransom, but they also need to manage this carefully. The transfer window opens tomorrow and the last thing they need is to damage their credibility in the market.
You could argue Arteta’s side are showing strength by refusing to be pushed around, but context matters. This is a team that has failed to land a top-tier striker in each of the last two summers.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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