Chelsea have joined the race for Arsenal-linked striker Viktor Gyokeres, enquiring over the conditions of a potential deal in recent days.
LISBON, PORTUGAL: Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Borussia Dortmund at on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
Portuguese outlet Record claim the race for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is hotting up, with both Chelsea and Juventus making enquiries over the player this week.
Gyokeres is far from the only centre-forward on Chelsea’s list. Sky Sports News report that the club’s shortlist includes Liam Delap, Benjamin Sesko, and Hugo Ekitike, as well as the Swedish international.
Sky claim Chelsea have made preliminary enquiries over a number of those targets, so there’s nothing to suggest they’re prioritising Gyokeres at this stage.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - JANUARY 22: Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting Lisbon in action during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between RB Leipzig and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Leipzig Stadium on January 22, 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Yet there should be some cause for concern at Arsenal, with both Gyokeres and Sesko seemingly featuring at the very top of their summer shortlist.
Chelsea will be looking to make a quick move for a striker, with the hope that they’ll be able sign one during the short transfer window at the beginning of June. That would allow the new signing to join their squad for the Club World Cup later in the month.
So if Arsenal aren’t on the ball, they might see one of their primary potential targets disappearing from the market before the end of the fortnight.
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
Sporting vice president Francisco Salgado Zenha claimed this week that they haven’t yet received any bids for Gyokeres. But that’s not entirely surprising, as clubs were warned not to submit offers before the end of Sporting’s season last weekend.
Sporting were playing in a league title decider two weeks ago, then a cup final on Sunday, and they didn’t want their star goalscorer unsettled before those two fixtures.
Ryan Taylor reported for the Mirror on Tuesday that Arsenal are considered the front runners for Gyokeres if they do follow up on their interest, adding that the player has a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting to leave for roughly £55-60m.
It’s unclear whether Chelsea’s emergence in the race might change the picture.
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