Arsenal can complete transfer for striker who scores more than Alexander Isak for just £50 million – it’s a no-brainer for Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal’s pursuit of a striker appears to be hotting up ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Gunners are in desperate need of adding a new number nine to Mikel Arteta’s ranks, with both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured, and neither quite providing the level that the Spaniard requires regardless.

Andrea Berta is expected to replace Edu Gaspar as the club’s new sporting director in the next few weeks, and the Italian already seems to have a number of targets in place.

It’s well documented that Alexander Isak is Arteta’s dream signing, while Benjamin Sesko is Arsenal’s most realistic striker acquisition this summer.

• READ MORE: Better than Sesko, Arsenal have been told asking price for ‘phenomenal’ striker transfer target

Arsenal have to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer

Isak and Sesko are undoubtedly good options for Arsenal, but both potential deals have their problems.

Newcastle are likely to demand an astronomical fee for the talisman, while Sesko is still young, raw and likely isn’t at the level required right now to lead the Gunners to the promised land.

Thus, an alternative needs to be sourced, and Viktor Gyokeres may be the perfect option.

Arsenal have been linked with Gyokeres for some time, but it’s been well known that the North Londoners, alongside other potential suitors, have been deterred by Sporting’s hefty asking price.

However, transfer expert Florian Plettenberg has reported that the Swedish striker has a verbal agreement with the Portuguese giants that states that he’ll be allowed to leave for somewhere in the region of €60 million to €70 million (£50 million to £59 million).

Meanwhile, Correio da Manhã indicate that Arsenal’s interest remains concrete and that the Premier League outfit have requested a formal meeting with the player’s agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, who is a close friend of Arteta’s.

At potentially as low as just £50 million, signing Gyokeres is simply a no-brainer.

Scoring 43 goals in 50 games last season, the former Coventry City attacker has scored 40 in 41 across all competitions this campaign.

This astounding goal-scoring rate has continued for almost two seasons and this is arguably now a large enough sample size to suggest that it’s sustainable.

He has the physical capacity to make the jump to the Premier League, while at 26, he’s in his prime and is ready to lead the line for a team with Champions League-winning aspirations.

At the purported price tag, it’s a low risk move that Arsenal must make happen.

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres’ statistics compared

On the surface, Gyokeres is scoring goals at a much more prolific rate than Isak, although he is, of course, operating in a much less demanding league.

Advanced metrics from the Primeira Liga are somewhat limited in the public domain, but comparing the two players’ goal and assist outputs in their recent careers makes for interesting reading.

Despite being slightly younger, Isak has been around at the top level for a much longer time, with the 2019/20 season his first at Real Sociedad.

Enjoying a much more unconventional rise to the top, Gyokeres was on loan St. Pauli in 19/20, before enduring disappointing temporary spells at Swansea and Coventry in 2020/21.

However, since the 2021/22 season, things have clicked for the Swede, and he’s produced ridiculous output that trumps his compatriot.

Isak is certainly more of a sure thing than Gyokeres, but at their respective prices, the latter looks like the more sensible signing.