Arsenal have identified Viktor Gyokeres as a top target ahead of the summer transfer window.
Newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta is an admirer of Gyokeres, who is an immovable force at Sporting CP.
In 100 appearances for the Lions, the Swede has directly contributed to 123 goals, telling all that needs to be known regarding the reasons for Arsenal’s interest.
Arsenal have offered Gyokeres a significant salary upgrade in a bid to lure the striker from Lisbon, with all eyes on where the 26-year-old ventures next.
David Raya revealed what the Arsenal squad think of Viktor Gyokeres
Gyokeres is the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to discussing Europe’s best strikers.
Arsenal are more than aware of the former Championship talisman’s strengths, having come up against him and Sporting back in November.
Arsenal thrashed Sporting 5-1 and managed to keep Gyokeres at bay, which was a goal of the squad’s before the game kicked off.
Such was revealed by David Raya, who, in the pre-match press conference, shared what the Arsenal squad already knew about the marksman.
“We know his strengths, how he runs a lot in behind and scores a lot one-versus-one, and he is a top player in form.”
Raya went on to admit that he and his teammates had planned to keep Gyokeres ‘very quiet’, which worked as the Swede was limited by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
“We are going to try and keep him very, very quiet. Don’t give him any chances. We have to step up defensively. Hopefully, we can do a great job and keep a clean sheet.”
Mikel Arteta didn’t want to comment on Gyokeres
The Arsenal squad’s verdict on Gyokeres is particularly interesting now that the striker looks as though he could be on the way to N5 in the summer.
Though Arteta pleaded for a striker in January, the Arsenal boss passed on the chance to comment on Gyokeres when asked about the forward before the clash with Sporting.
When asked about the Sweden international, the Spaniard opted to ‘talk about the team’, to which he was then pushed by journalists to give a response.
“I understand the question, but they have a lot of individual qualities,” Arteta responded cryptically.
“That’s why they can win games in various ways. And yes, in the specific position they have great players.”
From playing down the 26-year-old’s threat to pushing to sign the number nine, Arteta’s Arsenal project could be transformed by capturing Gyokeres.
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