Viktor Gyokeres is eager to complete a move to Arsenal this summer and is seemingly willing to burn bridges with Sporting CP to make a deal happen.
The Swede scored 54 goals in 52 games for the Portuguese giants last season, carrying the Lisbon club to the domestic double.
This goalscoring form has unsurprisingly sparked interest from a host of top clubs throughout Europe, including the Gunners, Manchester United, Napoli and Juventus.
The player’s preference is to move to the Emirates, although the North Londoners have been keeping their options open before making a definitive decision on which striker to sign.
Arsenal have whittled their shortlist down to Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, and most reports suggest Andrea Berta has been negotiating both deals at the same time, with the financial packages on offer potentially ultimately dictating which he goes for.
Viktor Gyokeres has made it clear to Sporting he is desperate to join Arsenal
Arsenal are growing frustrated with Leipzig over the German club’s asking price for Sesko, and this could ultimately point the Gunners in the direction of Gyokeres.
Sesko himself is also said to be proving difficult to negotiate with, while the Slovenian’s counterpart is doing everything he can to push for a switch to N5.
According to Record Portugal, Gyokeres called Sporting president Frederico Varandes and told him that he wants to join Arsenal no matter the cost.
The 27-year-old explained to Varandes that he’d given everything to the Portuguese club and that if they accept a fee worth around €70 million (£59 million) in total, then they’d have made a huge profit on him, double what they’d paid.
A compelling argument made by Gyokeres that will certainly prompt the Sporting president to think about his approach, the player also supposedly went one step further, initiating a comment that might agitate senior figures at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
Record Portugal suggests that Gyokeres told Sporting that he ‘will never forgive those responsible’ if Arsenal sign another striker this summer.
Such a radical stance shows how committed the player is to joining the North London club, although it could rub Sporting up the wrong way, and potentially actually hinder his chances of a move.
Viktor Gyokeres is the right man for Arsenal
Arsenal reportedly want Gyokeres signed before pre-season, with Portuguese media outlets going big on the idea that the Gunners are now pushing to sign him over Sesko.
While it’s not clear if Berta has actually made this decision yet, he’d be right to.
Gyokeres wants to play for Arsenal and is prepared to secure the move by any means necessary, while Sesko is supposedly arguing over minor details in a prospective contract at the Emirates.
The Slovenia international’s camp appear difficult to deal with based on the reports, while the Sweden international is anything but that.
| Statistical Comparison 2024/25 (League Only) | ||
| Stat | Gyokeres | Sesko |
| Appearances | 33 | 33 |
| Goals | 39 | 13 |
| Assists | 7 | 5 |
| Shots per 90 | 4.08 | 2.5 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.99 | 0.38 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 1.96 | 0.72 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.22 | 0.06 |
As shown by the data above, Gyokeres’ numbers are significantly more impressive currently than Sesko’s.
While the latter may have a higher ceiling, Arsenal need someone who can make an instant impact next season, and the former is more likely to do so.
Gyokeres’ astounding goalscoring exploits seem to have been quickly dismissed due to the quality of opposition he’s been playing against, but if he produces even a third of what he produced last season for Arsenal, he’ll be a worthwhile signing at the reported prices.
The public posturing is now piling the pressure on Berta to get a deal over the line.
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