Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim both want to sign a strikerplaceholder image
Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim both want to sign a striker | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal appear to be ahead of Manchester United in the race for a star striker
Arsenal are continuing their work to strengthen their squad for the 2025-25 campaign as they look to lift some silverware under Mikel Arteta next season.
The Gunners came close to trophies this year as they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup and finished second in the Premier League, although they were unable to challenge Liverpool as much as they’d tested Manchester City in the previous two campaigns.
The priority addition this summer is a new striker, as Arteta looks add more clinical goal threat to his side to help bolster their chances of success once the new campaign rolls around.
A number of top strikers from across Europe have been eyed by the Gunners with new sporting director Andrea Berta tasked with getting the right man in for the North London club. One figure who appears to be among the top targets is Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres.
Fabrizio Romano provides update on Arsenal move for Viktor Gyokeres
However, Romano insisted a move to North London is the star’s current priority: “At the moment the situation is open, he has not rejected anything. Only giving priority to Arsenal, but club to club, let’s see.”
Gyokeres is one of Europe’s hottest strikers after propelling himself into the view of several top clubs following a hugely-impressive two seasons with Sporting CP. He netted 54 times in 52 outings in all competitions this season while his goal tally over two years is 97 in 102 appearances. He has also provided 28 assists in that same time.
He has an £84m release clause in his contract and there have been conflicting claims how much Sporting would actually be willing to let him go for this summer. Reports in Portugal from Record claimed the Liga Portugal club had set an asking price of £67m. There had been hopes from the likes of Arsenal and United that £59m could be enough to get a deal done.
Viktor Gyokeres dubbed unstoppable by former teammate
Coventry City Jake Bidwell admitted last season he would have found Gyokeres’ rise “hard to believe” at one point but has now hailed him as “unstoppable”.
“He joined Coventry on loan and then signed for them permanently. All the lads have said when he came back in the summer after signing permanently, he was a different animal. He had been working out in the gym all summer, and it was almost like he was a different man. He was still young at the time and growing into himself but the main thing was his belief grew from there.”
He added: “With the way he plays as well, with his aggression, the two (qualities) go hand in hand with how well he has done. He all of a sudden realised how quick and strong he was and had the confidence to use it and mixed with the aggression, it’s made him pretty unstoppable.”
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