Manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly pressing Arsenal officials to sign a centre-forward for £60 million, with the north London team hoping to put an end to their protracted hunt for a traditional number nine.
Searching the market for a new striker for Arsenal, Edu and Arteta
Some have long believed that a prolific striker is the last piece missing from Arsenal’s jigsaw, and Arteta has expressed interest in bringing in a new striker since the summer of 2023.
Ivan Toney, a striker for Brentford, was being strongly linked to Arsenal at this time last year, and the links persisted until January. The England star is reportedly no longer a top target for Edu Gaspar and the larger recruitment team, based on a lack of reports since then.
Though defender Riccardo Calafiori is the first new addition of the summer, a few high-profile names are rumored to be on Edu’s radar as he continues to search for the ideal forward for Arteta.
Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sports, a transfer reporter, reported earlier this week that Arsenal might make a bid for Victor Osimhen of Napoli. However, it is unclear if their president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, will consider offers that fall short of the Nigerian’s £110 million release clause.
Over the course of 2023–2024, Arteta demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the absence of a star striker who scores 25 goals or more a season. In all competitions, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz combined for 51 goals.
The perception persists, though, that Arteta is eager to find Havertz a striking partner, and Arsenal is also considering Ajax star Brian Brobbey as a possible less expensive substitute for Osimhen.
Viktor Gyokeres, a star player for Sporting Lisbon, has also been frequently linked this transfer window. This is in response to the Swedish international’s amazing 43 goals in all competitions during his first season in Portugal.
Although Gyokeres’ contract has an £84 million release clause, there are rumors that Ruben Amorim’s Sporting may be open to selling Gyokeres for less money. According to TEAMtalk, The Boot Room believes the former Coventry City forward could leave for about £60 million.
Arsenal pushing to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon
The Portuguese daily O Jogo, via Standard Sport [Thursday, 08:00], claims that the Gunners are still very interested.
According to reports, Gyokeres from Sporting is the player that Arsenal is demanding to sign; Edu and company appear to be pushing for the 26-year-old in their quest for a new goal scorer. They might even have to contend with rivals from North London, Tottenham, who are rumored to be targeting Gyokeres as a striker in exchange for Ange Postecoglou.
According to analyst John Wenham, “Gyokeres at Sporting Lisbon is a very interesting link,” as reported by Tottenham News.
“He was very impressive during his time with Coventry City in England.” He plays a solid game all around. He can play on the ball, is big and strong, and has absurdly good finishing.
“That would be an exciting signing.”
