Sporting are prepared to sanction a Viktor Gyokeres sale in the region of €70m this summer, with new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta keen on the Swedish striker.
Gyokeres has scored 42 goals in as many games this season and is expected to leave his current surroundings this summer. He has a pact with the Portuguese club that he can leave for €30m less than his €100m release clause.
Arsenal have the 26-year-old high in their thinking as they search for a new No.9. They could face competition from Chelsea, who have explored Gyokeres in the past. Saudi dealmakers are also alert to his situation, and Sporting would welcome an approach in the hope of driving up his price. However, it is believed Gyokeres prefers to stay in Europe.
Links with Manchester United and Gyokeres are natural given head coach Ruben Amorim coached him at Sporting, but there has been no approach to date. Manchester United are in a tight PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) position and have other more economical targets, such as Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, on their list of options.
Viktor Gyokeres' statistics for Sporting this season
Arsenal also still view Alexander Isak as a dream target. The Newcastle United frontman scored again in a 2-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday night, and in doing so made it 20 Premier League goals for the season. Newcastle are under no pressure to sell Isak, and even if a renewal is not agreed, he remains contracted until 2028.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is known to be an admirer of Isak, but the north Londoners won't bid unless they feel he is genuinely available. Newcastle's outgoing chief executive Darren Eales has already said it would be "crazy" to sell Isak this summer. It's understood Newcastle value him at over £150m, making him more than twice the price of Gyokeres.
Arsenal have also laid plenty of groundwork on Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is on the radar of Chelsea as well. Sesko is keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium and has a variable release clause currently set at €70m, but it could rise higher based on performance-related criteria.
Arsenal made a new approach to Leipzig in January and were told Sesko would not be sold mid-season. The Slovenian striker is expected to leave this summer, though.
Arteta has already confirmed Arsenal are in for a "big summer". In addition to a striker, they want to add a left-winger, central-midfielder, left-back and back-up goalkeeper. Some additional cover for Bukayo Saka might be found despite confidence in Ethan Nwaneri.
Berta Holds Discussions with Williams' Agent
Athletic Bilbao talisman firmly on north Londoners' radar
Nico Williams
Nico Williams is still firmly on Arsenal's radar, and is a target endorsed by Berta. Former sporting director Edu had explored a transfer last summer. Williams has a €58m release clause. It is understood Berta has already met with Williams' agent, Felix Tainta, as part of normal and formative outreach.
Last summer, the Gunners, like other suitors, were put off by the overall cost of signing Williams, despite his release clause being significantly below his €70m market value. Williams is on a wage of around €200,000-per-week at Athletic Bilbao and the expectation is a further increase would occur with any move.
Arsenal are serious about pursuing Williams this summer, and could face competition from Chelsea, who are also in the market for a right-footed left-sided winger.
It remains to be seen whether Barcelona reignite their interest. Joan Laporta dreams of Williams and Lamine Yamal playing together, as they did so effectively when Spain won Euro 2024, but the LaLiga title-chasers' financial position makes pulling off a deal difficult. Bayern and Liverpool have also looked at Williams before. It will be interesting to see whether the player is intent on leaving Athletic Bilbao this summer since, like Zubimendi, he has formed a strong bond with the club.
Cunha Dividing Opinion at Emirates Stadium
Defensive qualities could count against Wolves attacker
Matheus Cunha in action for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal are also considering Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Matheus Cunha, who has a release clause of £62.5m. Wolves are planning for a summer exit, and Cunha recently told The Guardian he needs to "take the next step". The advantage of Cunha is he is a striker or left-attacker, but there is no guarantee Arsenal will choose to bid.
GIVEMESPORT understands that Cunha divides opinion within Arsenal's recruitment team. Berta is understood to want a more traditional No.9. Meanwhile, the left-attacker or winger is a role Arsenal want to fill with a profile that has not only offensive output but a strong defensive work ethic. The key to whether Arsenal decide to pursue Cunha will be if they feel he can diversify his game.
There is also a chance Arsenal will consider Bournemouth's in-form winger Antoine Semenyo, knowing the 25-year-old is a right-sided winger who could compete with Saka and is capable of playing on both sides. Semenyo has seven goals and four assists this season. The challenge is Bournemouth value Semenyo at over £70m, and part of the reason why is that the Ghana international is contracted until 2029.
And another right-sided target could be Leroy Sane who, as it stands, is heading into free agency this summer. Arsenal are alert to his situation, but Bayern are still intent on extending the 29-year-old's contract and there remains a chance he stays.
In midfield, Arsenal continue to work on Martin Zubimendi. Broad personal terms are already verbally agreed with the Real Sociedad man, who has a release clause of €60m. Arsenal are cautious despite optimism Zubimendi will finally leave his current employers this summer. They are aware Liverpool were in the same position last summer, only for him to change his mind and stay.
Liverpool are not set to reignite their interest in Zubimendi, and there has been no outreach from Real Madrid for Zubimendi so far. Xabi Alonso likes his profile, and the Bayer Leverkusen boss is viewed as the eventual heir to Carlo Ancelotti, but Real Madrid obviously are not framing targets with a new manager in mind just yet.
Ancelotti could see out his contract until the summer of 2026. It is harder for Real Madrid to contemplate a change this summer given the Spanish giants play in the Club World Cup almost immediately after the season ends.
Berta has also put forward Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, another difficult target to secure given Newcastle's desire to hold onto their stars. Whereas there is confidence Zubimendi will arrive, Guimaraes won't be easy to secure. However, those close to the player insist there is a pact allowing him to leave for a fixed fee of around £60m with add-ons in addition, but the reality is that if Newcastle get Champions League football then they will be in no mood to do business.
Partey and Jorginho On Course for Exits
Expected departures has resulted in desire to strengthen in midfield
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Arsenal could bring in two midfielders given both Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to depart this summer. They are also waiting on Norwegian midfielder Sverre Halseth Nypan to decide on his next club. The 18-year-old, who is currently at Rosenborg, visited Arsenal in January but is taking his time before committing to his next club. City Football Group, with Girona in mind, have also made an offer to Nypan.
Arsenal also want to add a left-back. Kiernan Tierney is expected to join Celtic this summer and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be sold. Fresh links have emerged with Ajax's Jorrel Hato. It is certainly true that the Gunners considered the 19-year-old last summer, but they didn't feel he would leave Ajax and were ultimately proven correct. Even though Riccardo Calafiori is a similar profile to Hato, signing another left-back, who can also play centre-back, is possible.
Arsenal have also discussed a more specialist full-back. Milos Kerkez is appreciated, but sources feel Liverpool are favourites to win that race, with Bournemouth prepared to sell for a fee in excess of £40m.
Berta also endorses the potential signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Arsenal want to add competition for No.1 shot-stopper David Raya, and 23-year-old Garcia is seen by many at the club as an ideal fit. Arsenal could face competition from Atletico Madrid, especially if Jan Oblak departs this summer.
Saka and Gabriel Could Secure Fresh Terms
Gunners keen to extend contracts of duo and other key men
Bukayo Saka celebrating after scoring for Arsenal
In addition to a flurry of new signings, Arsenal are keen to extend the contracts of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes. There is some urgency over engaging with the latter because Saudi side Al-Nassr are intent on bidding for the Brazilian this summer.
Gabriel is now out for the rest of the season as his hamstring injury, sustained in the win over Fulham on Tuesday, will require surgery. It is likely Arsenal start engagement during his recovery knowing Saudi dealmakers have already made some contact with the highly-rated centre-back.
Like Saka and Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba are also entering the final two years of their contracts. Martinelli has himself attracted some formative Saudi interest, but Arsenal told him in January they are prepared to offer him a new deal.
Berta must now assess the current squad and decide who to advance contract extension talks with. The feeling from sources is that Saka and Gabriel will be his first priorities.
Berta is going to have to hit the ground running as this summer will be one of Arsenal's most important windows in recent history. He has been hired because of his outstanding record at Atletico Madrid and extensive contact book. But whereas Arteta has had time to build a project, Berta is now tasked with helping Arsenal win silverware from season one of his tenure.