Arsenal are on the brink of securing a deal for Sporting CP goal machine Viktor Gyokeres. The Premier League title hopefuls are finally set to inject some much-needed firepower into their squad, after suffering setbacks in their last three seasons.
The North London giants have reportedly agreed to pay £54.8m upfront plus £8.6m in add-ons for Gyokeres, 27. The Gunners are now ironing out the final kinks to seal the deal for their top attacking target, who has scored a whopping 68 goals in 68 league games for Sporting.
Speculation is rife about which shirt number the new recruit will don upon joining the club. With Gabriel Jesus currently sporting the number nine, it’s likely Gyokeres will have to opt for a different jersey.
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He could emulate Thierry Henry, who famously sported the number 14 during his trophy-studded tenure at Highbury – a number that is currently up for grabs.
Gyokeres has worn various shirt numbers throughout his career, including 12 and 17 at Coventry and 14 at Swansea City. Internationally, he has mostly worn the number 17, with spells sporting 16 and 18 as well as the classic attacking 11 and 10.
Viktor Gyökeres v Arsenal
Viktor Gyökeres vs Arsenal( Photo Credit: Getty Images)
In North London, there are several squad numbers up for grabs that Gyokeres could claim.
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The number 10 has been vacant since Emile Smith Rowe made his move to Fulham; the number 18 and 20 remain unassigned following the departures of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jorginho.
The Gunners are preparing to welcome one of Europe’s most formidable strikers, and it will be exciting to see how Gyokeres fits into the team. With his impressive goal-scoring record, he could be a key player in Arsenal’s quest for the Premier League title.
Arsenal fans will be eager to see their team take on Manchester United in the opening game of the season, with Gyokeres potentially making his debut. The signing of Gyokeres would be a significant boost to Arsenal’s squad, and fans will be hoping he can make a big impact in the coming season.
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