Arsenal have requested a formal meeting with Viktor Gyokeres’ agent ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a report from Portugal.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 22: Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese Cup match between Sporting CP and Amarante FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 22, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha report (via Sport Witness) that Arsenal are preparing a decisive summer raid for Viktor Gyokeres’ services this summer, aiming to get ahead of competition from Manchester United by requesting a formal meeting with the player’s agent.
Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya is also reportedly a friend of Mikel Arteta, and Arsenal believe their relationship could see them steal an edge on United.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 5: Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Sporting CP and Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 5, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Reports in January suggested that Arsenal had a growing interest in Gyokeres, but that a summer move was always more likely.
The Telegraph claimed Gyokeres would be available for £63m in the summer, but that Sporting would hold to his €100m (£84m) release clause in the January window.
Even if Arsenal really were interested in the striker, a January move would have meant committing an extra £20m plus wages for less than six months of football.
LISBON, PORTUGAL: Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP scores goal from the penalty spot during the Portuguese Cup match between Sporting CP and Amarante FC at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 22, 2024. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Gyokeres is having a fantastic campaign in Portugal, scoring 40 goals and assisting 10, including six goals in his eight Champions League games.
Though it’s worth mentioning just how many of those goals have been penalties, with Gyokeres converting from the spot 16 times in 2024/25 (15 times for Sporting, once for Sweden). The total is technically 17 if you include his shootout goal in the Portuguese cup final.
Two goals of the 26-year-old’s Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City were penalties, and he failed to score in the competition against Arsenal.
Sporting Lisbon's Swedish forward #09 Viktor Gyokeres celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Portuguese league football match between Sporting CP and Rio Ave FC at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on August 9, 2024.(Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images
There are regularly questions asked over whether Gyokeres could produce anything like his current form outside of Portugal. Before joining Sporting in 2023, his only 20-goal season was in the Championship with Coventry City.
Even so, it seems inevitable a club will eventually take a chance on the centre-forward replicating his consecutive 40-goal seasons for Sporting somewhere else. Whether or not that club will be Arsenal remains unclear.
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