Viktor Gyokeres will be hoping his future is resolved very quickly as transfer speculation regarding his next move continues to dominate the headlines. After two prolific seasons in Portugal with Sporting CP where he scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 games, the Sweden international looks on course to join one of Europe's biggest clubs this summer.
Premier League duo Arsenal and Manchester United have been heavily linked with the 27-year-old over the past year or so and Serie A giants Juventus have also been credited with interest in the hotshot. According to reports in Italy, Gyokeres will not be making the move to Turin despite talk of an incredible £11million-per-year package for the former Coventry City man.
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport report that the Bianconeri have been informed that the striker only wants to join Arsenal this summer. It is now down to Andrea Berta and Arsenal to submit a bid Sporting CP deem acceptable as the club look to finally sign a proven goalscorer.
The addition of a new striker ahead of Arsenal's return to pre-season training would be the dream scenario for the Gunners as they bid to make a fast start to the campaign. That way the Stockholm-born ace can have sufficient time with Arteta and his teammates and then hopefully hit the ground running come the Manchester United opener.
As Sporting CP's season came to an end in late May with a Taca de Portugal final win over city rivals Benfica, it won't be long at all until Gyokeres is back at the club's training base with his teammates in preparation for the 2025/26 campaign. Whether the striker is to take part in his club's pre-season friendlies remains to be seen given the current talk over his future and when a transfer away will actually come to fruition.
Ahead of the new Portuguese season kicking off, Sporting have four games in the calendar already, two of which are against UK opposition. Sporting CP's first friendly of the summer is against Celtic on Wednesday, July 16 at Estadio Algarve.
Rui Borges' team play at the same stadium on Monday, July 21 as Sunderland make the trip to Portugal for the friendly. Another tough encounter is on the agenda four days later as they face Spanish side Villarreal, with the match taking place at Estadio Nacional do Jamor.
Sporting CP and Benfica will meet once again at the end of July in Portugal's version of the Community Shield. Estadio Algarve is again the location for the game on Thursday, July 31.
With the possibility of an Arsenal transfer getting the green light this summer, the last thing Gyokeres will want is to either see a move drag on late into the window or pick up an issue that impacts a potential transfer. All would no doubt like a quick end to this transfer saga as Arsenal require a new striker and Gyokeres himself will want to know where his future lies in 2025/26.