Viktor Gyokeres appears set to be the one to miss out on an Arsenal transfer this summer, after it all came down to a straight shootout with Benjamin Sesko.
As football.london understands, the RB Leipzig forward is the one the Gunners have now chosen to press ahead with to make their key striker signing this summer. Talks took place last week between Mikel Arteta, sporting director Andrea Berta and the club hierarchy to come to the decision.
Sesko and Gyokeres have both been thoroughly scouted for more than a year now, but now it is the former who is the obvious frontrunner in the quest to solve this problem position.
As for the latter, Gyokeres still faces a summer of uncertainty - will he stay in Portugal or find somewhere else to take his career?
With 97 goals scored in 102 appearances for Sporting CP, it would be a surprise if another club were to not recognise his talents.
For now, it has only been recognised by the Liga Portugal themselves, who have unsurpringly confirmed the Sweden star to be included in their team of the season for 2024/25.
Viktor Gyokeres reacts to being named in the Liga Portugal team of the season
Viktor Gyokeres reacts to being named in the Liga Portugal team of the season (Image: Instagram: @viktorgyokeres)
Gyokeres himself reacted to the achievement, though only with a wordless repost of Sporting CP's congratulatory post towards their striker and teammate Francisco Trincao, who was also recognised for his performances over the course of the campaign.
Since the summer transfer window opened, there have been mixed messages over the 27-year-old's future.
Most recently it has been claimed Gyokeres would be open to joining Manchester United and reuniting with former manager Ruben Amorim, in spite of the club not qualifying for European football next season.
Amid the possibility of a transfer, he had pulled out of international duty this weekend with a 'minor injury'.
And making a surprise appearance on a podcast at the start of the month, the striker even joked with friends about later sealing a switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Meanwhile there has continued to be noise around an alternative move to La Liga with either champions Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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