Personal terms Agreed: Arsenal finally agree personal terms with 22-year-old dangerous striker who has been ranked above Erling Haaland this season
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has laid out his demands to sporting director Andrea Berta in the race for a striker, according to reports – with the Spanish boss wanting Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres to come to the club ahead of next month’s visit to Asia for a plethora of high-profile pre-season friendlies.
The Gunners have all but confirmed a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with that move set to go through in the coming weeks, and Berta is potentially set to spend £300million to finally see the Premier League title land at the Emirates Stadium. That will incorporate a move for a striker – and a deal for Gyokeres could be forced through to get him into the groove for the early games of the season.
The report by Portuguese outlet, Correio da Manha, states that Arteta wants Gyokeres in time for the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia – with the Spaniard wanting to run the rule over the in-demand striker on their travels to get him up to speed for the Premier League campaign.
Arsenal will play two games in Singapore and one game in Hong Kong in preparation for the new season, and Arteta wishes to count upon the ‘elite’ former Brighton starlet, preparing to make another bid for his services – one that would ideally be successful to see him line up in the far east with reports he could actually cost £80m.
The Gunners’ chase for a new striker is no big secret, with Gyokeres and RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko both being labelled as top targets in their search for more goals – but with reports on Sunday suggesting that the Slovenian star’s move to the Emirates Stadium could be in jeopardy thanks to his high wage demands, Gyokeres continues to emerge as a potential option and Arteta could utilise him abroad.
The north London side will face Serie A giants AC Milan, as well as Champions League qualifiers Newcastle United and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on their travels, and coming up trumps against elite clubs will be a good omen for Gyokeres going forward if he can complete a move by then.
Arsenal will have a month to finally land a talisman, and having seen attacker duo Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both pick up season-ending injuries in the winter months, a new striker is paramount to ending their five-year wait for a major trophy.
