Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly put a transfer to Arsenal 'at the top of his preferences' - even ahead of a reunion with former manager Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
This revelation comes after links to the Sweden international recently resurfaced following the confirmation of Andrea Berta joining Arsenal as the club's new sporting director.
According to A Bola, Gyokeres 'moment of truth' is approaching. Long has it been assumed that the striker - who has scored 85 goals in 92 appearances for Sporting - wishes to seek out his next challenge ahead of the new season.
Numerous reports, including this fresh one, have given claim to a gentleman's agreement between the Portuguese championship challengers and their prized asset. In summer, they should facilitate his chosen transfer if the €70-75m (£58.6-62.8m) price is met.
And A Bola say Gyokeres definitive choice is Arsenal, specifically explaining why this is the case ahead of a reunion with Amorim.
Between 2023 and 2024 he made 68 of his Sporting appearances under the now-Man United boss, during which time 66 of his goals were scored.
Simply put, it is put down to the 26-year-old's 'desire' over anything else. It is claimed he would even accept lower terms to transfer to a club that he believes will challenge sooner for major honours.
The Gunners have done all they can to prove that they are still a force despite injuries and stars approaching the end of their contracts, still fighting for the Premier League title and into the Champions League's final eight teams.
Meanwhile at Old Trafford, Amorim has struggled to implement his system fully in these early days, the club sitting 13th in the table, and his club will be under tight financial constraints even years into his rebuild.
Gyokeres is therefore said to be only considering those a part of UEFA's elite European competition and has compiled a 'restricted list'. On said list feature Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City from the Premier League, Barcelona and Real Madrid from La Liga and Bayern Munich in Germany.
For the Gunners, his name is one of many that have been brought up in months' worth of rumours based around forwards.
In that time Arteta has been lacking in this department, with Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the remainder of the season since January and Kai Havertz following him with the same fate, cruelly after the January transfer window closed.
And looking ahead to the next business period, Arteta has commented: "It's a big summer for many things because, first of all, we have to maintain the good foundations that we have and then obviously, how can we improve and evolve the team?"