What a week it's been for Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the 27-year-old shaking off a mixed first season at the Emirates to emerge as Sweden's saviour in recent days.
The former Sporting CP man - who had failed to score at all in the regular World Cup qualifying campaign - notably bagged a hat-trick as Graham Potter's men saw off Ukraine in their play-off semi-final, setting up a make-or-break showdown with Robert Lewandowski's Poland on Tuesday night.
At the end of a thrilling encounter, it was Gyokeres who lashed home to send his country to this summer's World Cup, sealing a 3-2 win to book their place in the United States.
As far as the Gunners are concerned, meanwhile, they will be hoping this can be a springboard for the £63.5m striker heading into the climax of the campaign, albeit with the north London side already looking at potential competitors in that number nine role heading into the summer.
Latest on Arsenal's search for a new striker
With Gabriel Jesus looking destined to depart, and with Kai Havertz having been plagued by injury in recent seasons, there is certainly merit in pursuing another striker this summer.
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after the match
Indeed, it's not as if Gyokeres has exactly ripped it up, despite netting 97 goals in just 102 games back in Lisbon, with the one-time Coventry City star scoring just 11 Premier League goals to date.
The leading target to potentially upgrade on Arsenal's number 14 would likely be Julian Alvarez by all accounts, although recent reports have indicated that other targets are also on the agenda.
As per Sky Sport Germany reporter Florian Plettnberg, the Gunners are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen sensation, Christian Kofane, with the 19-year-old recently impressing when the two sides met in the Champions League.
According to Plettenberg, Mikel Arteta's side are one of 'several' English clubs who are interested in the teenager, albeit with Real Madrid also in the mix as it stands.
In terms of a price tag, the Bundesliga outfit are likely to demand as much €70m (£60m) if they are to consider cashing in this summer, ensuring an offer in that region would seemingly be accepted.
Why Kofane could be a dream Gyokeres replacement at Arsenal
It was something of a protracted summer search for a new striker at the Emirates, with there having been whispers regarding the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, as well as Hugo Ekitike, before Andrea Berta settled on Gyokeres.
hugo-ekitike-liverpool-forest
The Swede has outscored both Sesko and Isak this season in the league, while drawing level with Ekitike, albeit with the exciting Frenchman bettering the Arsenal man with regard to assists (four vs zero).
In the view of Wayne Rooney, both the Gunners - and Manchester United - should have looked to sign Ekitike instead of Gyokeres and Sesko, with the former England skipper hailing the 23-year-old as one of the "best signings in the Premier League".
Alas, the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt man is now shining at Anfield, although Arteta and Berta could land the next best thing in the form of Kofane, with the Leverkusen youngster having been likened to Ekitike by the Bundesliga's official website.
Still only 19, the Cameroonian has enjoyed a rapid rise after only signing from second-tier Spanish side Albacete last summer, since racking up 15 goals and assists in his first 39 games in Germany.
Hailed as "one of Europe's most exciting strikers" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kofane only recently looked like the more lively of the pair when Leverkusen took on Gyokeres and Arsenal in the Champions League.
Indeed, the £60m starlet proved particularly impressive in the first leg for the hosts, successfully completing 100% of his dribbles, boasting a 94% pass accuracy and registering three key passes, proving a real handful for the largely impenetrable Gabriel and William Saliba.
Kofane vs Arsenal
1st Leg
90
33
94%
3
2/2
2
6
5/8
1/3
There was a completeness to his game, even as a teenager, that Gyokeres doesn't appear to possess, with that outing seeing the Scandinavian striker register just 21 touches, record a 69% pass accuracy rate, provide one key pass and fail to register a single attempted dribble.
At 27, Gyokeres was expected to come in and immediately hit the ground running, yet there is already a sense that the Gunners should be seeking out his replacement before too long.
Kofane-Leverkusen-Arsenal
Kofane might be inexperienced, yet his attributes would make him a real rival to the Swede over the coming years, before eventually usurping him as Arsenal's leading number nine.
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