Viktor Gyokeres scored a crucial goal in stoppage time to help Sporting Lisbon beat Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final, with the Swede's future a major talking point
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Goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates with the trophy
Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP has been heavily linked with Arsenal
(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres dropped a significant hint that his time with Sporting Lisbon might be drawing to a close after playing a key role in securing a domestic double for the team. The striker, who is currently one of Europe's hottest properties, has been heavily linked with a switch to Arsenal.
He concluded the 2024/25 season in grand fashion as Sporting clinched the Portuguese Cup to add to their league triumph, edging out Benfica in a tense match. Gyokeres was pivotal, netting a vital penalty in the 11th minute of stoppage time to draw level and send the game into extra time, following an initial lead by Benfica courtesy of Orkun Kokcu.
Sporting took control in the additional period, with Conrad Harder and Francisco Trincao scoring to seal a 3-1 victory and lift the cup. Gyokeres' goal capped off a remarkable season for him, boasting a tally of 53 goals and 13 assists across 51 appearances, along with two pieces of silverware.
Yet, immediately after the celebrations had died down, the Swedish forward was faced with inevitable questions about his future. Addressing the media, he remained guarded when probed about a potential move, but his comments were quite revealing.
"Let us see," the former Swansea City loanee said. "It's hard for me to say, because yeah it is football and you never know what's going to happen in the summer. So for me to say anything else than that is impossible," reports the Mirror.
When pressed about the possibility of joining Arsenal, he continued: "I don't know, I just focus on this. I've tried to focus on the last games because it's so important and I don't want to think about anything else. So yeah, if anything is true, let's see in the summer."
Mirror Football has gathered that Arsenal are confident they can land Gyokeres if they meet Sporting's valuation of £60 million. The North London club is prepared to offer the 26-year-old striker wages exceeding £200,000 per week to bring in the top-tier goalscorer they've been lacking.
Gyokeres spent an unproductive spell with Swansea on loan from Brighton during the reign of Steve Cooper, scoring just once, in an FA Cup clash with Stevenage. He has since gone on to be one of the hottest prospects in European football.
Sporting, along with Gyokeres, have decided to hold off on discussions about the Swedish international's future until the season concludes. It is anticipated that negotiations will commence with potential suitors soon, with Arsenal leading the race for his signature.
Arsenal secured a second-place finish for the third consecutive year in the Premier League but felt the absence of a prolific striker, as injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz proved costly. Andrea Berta, the newly appointed sporting director, is charged with the mission to find the right fit, and it's understood that Gyokeres tops their list, ahead of RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko.
Mikel Arteta has emphasised the need for a forward to elevate Arsenal's game. "If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no?" Arteta remarked prior to the final day's match against Southampton.
"What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower.
"Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions."