Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with an Arsenal exit as part of a Julian Alvarez swap deal and Mikel Arteta has now had his say on the former's future
Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres transfer stance clear
Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres transfer stance clear(Image: (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images))
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Mikel Arteta has confirmed Viktor Gyokeres will be staying at Arsenal, which puts an end to claims of a swap deal involving the Swede and Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid star has been linked with a summer move to Emirates Stadium and one potential option suggested to seal the transfer has been Gyokeres going the other way.
The 28-year-old endured a mixed first season in north London after joining from Sporting CP with his technical ability questioned, but he did pop up with several important goals as he managed 21 in all competitions.
Alvarez, meanwhile, managed one fewer and yet has been touted as a forward that could change the dynamic of Arsenal's attack. Gyokeres looked rusty in his 30-minute cameo against Girona on Saturday with it being his first football since the World Cup.
Despite that, and his other deficiencies, Arteta looks to be sticking by his striker. When asked about Gyokeres by Spanish journalist Victor Llebaria Escutia, he said: "Yes, he's going to stay.” The Gunners boss had earlier stated on Alvarez: "I'm not going to talk about a footballer who isn't ours."
A deal for the Argentine could still go through but it seemingly hinges on the Gunners pursuit of a player on the other side of Madrid in Vinicius Jr.
The Brazil international is firmly on Arsenal's radar and will seemingly either sign a new contract at Real or be sold this summer with their final extension proposal already on the table. football.london understands that momentum is subsequently shifting in Arsenal's favour.
Vinicius was name-dropped in Arteta's press conference after the 4-1 victory in Spain and his response to more signings being in before the season starts was particularly telling. The Arsenal manager ended his chat with the media after being asked when Vinicius was joining.
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He had earlier said: "Well, we are really active, trying to improve and evolve the team. That's clear. We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously, because we want to get better like anybody else. And you can just see it.
"The transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing, we won't sit still. And we are very ambitious in what we want to do."
Vinicius Jr and Bruno Guimaraes
Arsenal are trying to sign Vinicius Jr and Bruno Guimaraes
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One player that looks set to join Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier as a new signing is Bruno Guimaraes. The Newcastle United captain has been a concrete target of Arsenal for the last few weeks and it finally looks as though progress is being made - so much so that a medical has reportedly been scheduled for Monday.
The departure of Eddie Howe as Newcastle boss and Christian Norgaard's impending move to Everton have seemingly sped up the deal.
If that deal is wrapped up, full focus is expected to be on Vinicius with a move for Alvarez likely placed on the backburner. Barcelona is the former Manchester City star's dream but Atletico currently have no plans to sell to a direct domestic rival.