Viktor Gyokeres is closing in on a move to Arsenal but depending on the timing that his move is sealed, the Swede may find himself having to make a difficult decision on his arrival
11:36, 17 Jul 2025
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres is closing in on a move to Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres may not receive the welcome gift he'd hoped for when his move to Arsenal is officially announced.
Discussions at club level between the Gunners and Sporting Lisbon have been ongoing for several weeks, but a full agreement has yet to be reached. However, personal terms are unlikely to pose an issue, with Gyokeres reportedly agreeing to a weekly wage of around £200,000.
Arsenal are in dire need of additional firepower upfront and aim to finalise a deal as swiftly as possible. Earlier this week, it was suggested that a transfer fee of £55million plus approximately £8.6m in bonus payments was being considered. Sporting, however, were reportedly hesitant about the structure of the add-ons.
TBR Football has since reported that a full agreement is expected to be reached by the end of this week. If all goes to plan, the Gunners will be ready to announce the signing of Gyokeres from that point.
If the deal proceeds, it appears the forward will miss out on a welcome present in the form of his preferred shirt number. Gyokeres currently sports the iconic No. 9, but it's already taken by Gabriel Jesus.
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres may be left with a tough decision if his Arsenal move goes through(Image: Getty Images)
An alternative for Gyokeres could be the No. 17, which he donned at Coventry City before moving to Sporting two years ago. However, he would have to negotiate with Oleksandr Zinchenko, who currently wears it.
Otherwise, the forward will need to select a different number unless either or both Jesus and Zinchenko depart Arsenal this summer. This means Gyokeres will likely have to choose a shirt number he's never sported before.
The most appealing option might be No. 10, which has remained vacant at Arsenal since Emile Smith Rowe departed for Fulham last summer. He could alternatively don the legendary No. 14 which was previously adorned by Thierry Henry. Eddie Nketiah was the most recent player to sport it but failed to live up to its legacy before transferring to Crystal Palace a year ago.
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Additional possibilities for Gyokeres include No. 18, No. 20, No. 26 and No. 27, which are presently available. It's yet to be determined which number he'll select, with the primary focus being Arsenal securing the transfer.
Gyokeres recently confessed that he would relish playing in the Premier League but fell short of identifying the Gunners as his preferred club, though it's essentially a foregone conclusion.
Article continues below
Speaking to L'Equipe, he said: "It's one of the biggest leagues in Europe. I spent several years there without being able to play a single match. So, of course, it's something I'd like to do. It would be great revenge."