Arsenal will be in the market for a new striker in the summer transfer window.
The Gunners are eager to provide cover and competition for Kai Havertz, who is currently recovering from a serious hamstring injury.
Gabriel Jesus is in rehabilitation from an ACL tear, meaning Mikel Arteta’s squad needs at least one new number nine added to it.
A plethora of strikers have been linked with a switch to the Emirates, including the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres.
Viktor Gyokeres breaks silence on future amid Arsenal transfer links
Gyokeres emerged as a primary Arsenal target last month, with the Gunners identifying the prolific Sporting striker as a cheaper alternative to Isak and a more experienced alternative to Sesko.
The Swede added three more goals to his tally for the season on Friday night, netting a ruthless hat-trick against Moreirense in the Primeira Liga.
Now on 47 strikes for the season in all competitions, the 26-year-old was asked about his future after the encounter at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
Quizzed on reports that Sporting are willing to sell him for somewhere between £55 million and £70 million, he said: “No one can predict what will happen, we enjoy the moment.”
“I can’t say anything about that.”
Asked if he likes London, he responded: “I like Lisbon.”
Remaining typically coy on his future, he certainly didn’t rule out a move to N5, and seemingly indicated that he’s open to it by stating ‘no one can predict what will happen’.
Andrea Berta is said to be the driving force behind Arsenal’s interest in Gyokeres, with the club’s new sporting director intent on acquiring a win-now signing, instead of a project acquisition like Sesko.
It’ll be interesting to see how this develops, with Arteta said to be a huge admirer of the Slovenian.
What Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal attracting players
Arsenal dismantled Real Madrid in the Champions League over two legs with the whole world watching.
Performances and occasions like this certainly go a long way to boosting the stock of the club on the global stage, and prospective new signings will have been excited by what they saw.
The likes of Gyokeres and Sesko surely would’ve been enthused by Arsenal’s progression, with it making the Gunners a significantly more attractive proposition.
Arteta spoke about this in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
“We are very lucky because we are at a football club that every time I’ve spoken to players, they want to be part of it,” he said.
“So I think that’s [beating Real Madrid] something that probably can generate more energy, more enthusiasm, more belief, and the fact that I want to be part of these nights now, because the club is in a good place.
“I think overall, we’re already so strong that we can attract any player.”
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