Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Arsenal, Manchester United, Transfer News, Premier League, Football, Mikel Arteta
Luke Davies
Topics: Arsenal, Manchester United, Transfer News, Premier League, Football, Mikel Arteta
Viktor Gyokeres’ potential summer transfer away from Sporting CP has taken a huge twist.
Gyokeres, 26, is one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe having registered 43 goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances for Sporting CP this term.
His impressive record has attracted interest from Premier League clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester United, with the Sweden striker previously working with United head coach Ruben Amorim at the Portuguese champions.
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However, reports from the Mail, suggest that the player prefers the idea of a move to the Gunners over the Red Devils as Mikel Arteta’s side will likely compete in next season’s Champions League – although United can still secure qualification if they win the Europa League.
And the Gunners have been handed a boost ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
As reported by Football Transfers, Gyokeres’ agent will be in attendance at the Emirates on Tuesday evening - meaning he will be in close proximity with the Gunners’ new sporting director Andrea Berta.
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Just last week, The Athletic reported that Gyokeres “has long been admired” by Berta and is expected to be a target this summer.
However, it is claimed that Arteta is a huge fan of Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak – although as things stand Newcastle have no intention of selling him this summer.
Gyokeres would likely be the cheaper option with the Lisbon-based side reportedly willing to let him leave for a fee of between £55-70m, while Isak would likely cost between £100-150m.
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Arteta, whose side are currently second in the Premier League, has seen his team’s season heavily impacted by injuries to attacking options such as Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
But he promised a big summer in the transfer window when speaking in a press conference on Tuesday.
“The way we planned the five first summers, they were going to be very big and they were going to have different objectives because the turnaround of players and the objective of those windows was going to be different,” Arteta said.
“But now when you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad but as well we want to increase the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step. It’s going to be a big one and we are very excited about it.”