After deciding they can’t sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, Arsenal are targeting a different striker.
Alexander Isak is a long-term target for the Gunners, but a move to the Emirates Stadium is not on the horizon. Newcastle are not selling Isak, with Mikel Arteta well aware that the 25-year-old will cost far too much money.
They are taking their business elsewhere, as they aim to address the striker issue that plagued their 2024/25 season. Arsenal are looking at a different Swedish striker, with Viktor Gyokeres seemingly on course to move to north London.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old has agreed personal terms with Arsenal as they aim to settle on a fee with Sporting CP.
🚨🔴⚪️ The agreement between Viktor Gyökeres and Arsenal on personal terms is valid until June 2030, five years.
Viktor has been clear with Sporting as reported: only Arsenal, as soon as possible.
Club to club talks advancing, underway to get it done. ⏳🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/wObgWi3FIT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 6, 2025
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Newcastle United eyed Viktor Gyokeres in 2023
Gyokeres will be a blockbuster signing for Arsenal if they get this deal over the line, and the forward is a player that Newcastle United know very well.
After all, he was a player the Magpies considered in the summer of 2023 after qualifying for the Champions League.
The Daily Mail reported in May 2023 that Newcastle United scout Mick Tait had watched Gyokeres play at Wembley in the playoff final as Coventry lost to Luton Town.
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That season, Gyokeres netted 22 goals in 50 games for Coventry. It was clear he was ready to make the step up, as Newcastle pondered bringing him to Tyneside and partnering him with fellow Sweden international Alexander Isak.
However, it was Sporting CP who struck a deal. Shortly after being scouted by Newcastle, Gyokeres joined the Portuguese giants in a move worth around £20million.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after Sporting CP win the Portuguese Cup.
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
How much Viktor Gyokeres could cost Arsenal
Fast forward two years and Gyokeres could return to England for more than triple that amount after scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP.
According to the Daily Mail, Gyokeres could cost Arsenal up to £70million.
It is a move that will delight the Arsenal faithful, while it should bring a definitive end to chatter around Isak moving to the Emirates. While a deal was never going to happen, that did not stop the Arsenal fans from talking about it.
It is also a move that directly strengthens one of Newcastle’s Premier League rivals. The Gunners finished the 2024/25 season eight points clear of the Magpies, despite not having a consistent scorer leading the line.
That is set to change, while Newcastle United’s squad remains the same. Newcastle are close to signing Anthony Elanga, but a deal is still yet to be finalised.