BID ACCEPTED: Arsenal’s £86million bid for Europe’s most valued striker has been accepted after Manchester United hijacked Viktor Gyokeres’ transfer
You can understand a few disgruntled and impatient Arsenal fans right now, even if Andrea Berta has concluded some fabulous deals in the transfer window to date.
While Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke have all arrived, the Gunners boarded their flight on Saturday for their pre-season Asia tour without a new striker.
Some supporters may deem that a failure but Berta and Co are making progress. Viktor Gyokeres is poised to arrive at the Emirates Stadium, provided there are no late hiccups.
Arsenal have long needed a striker and you sense that the fanbase will not be content with how this summer has played out until one signs on the dotted line.
Still, there could yet be a late twist in the tale.
Arsenal looking at Gyokeres alternative
Last weekend, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Arsenal had made a breakthrough in their negotiations with Sporting regarding Gyokeres.
He revealed that Arsenal were ‘in the process of completing a move’ for the Swede and were taking the final steps in negotiations with the Lisbon club. It’s widely thought that the remaining hold up on the deal concerns the add-ons attached to the move. Frederico Varandas, the club’s president, is said to be hankering over how realistic those add-ons are.
Still, according to The Express’ Ryan Taylor, the Gunners remain ‘relaxed’ about the situation.
Before their pursuit of Gyokeres ramped up, the dream target for Arsenal and indeed for many other clubs was Alexander Isak.
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Gyokeres’ international colleague has been the subject of interest from the north Londoners for some time now but amid recent interest from Liverpool, who are reportedly willing to slap £120m on the table, a new update has emerged concerning Arsenal.
Indeed, according to the club insider AFC Camden, ‘Isak’s representatives made contact with Arsenal in recent weeks’.
While this doesn’t mean a deal is necessarily on the table, particularly as it’s well documented Newcastle don’t want to sell, it’s interesting to see that the Gunners have been in talks as recently as this summer.
Last summer, the same source suggested that Mikel Arteta had told Martin Zubimendi to wait for Arsenal’s advances and lo and behold, the deal has now come to fruition. Perhaps this one might have legs too.
How Gyokeres compares to Alexander Isak
It’s safe to say that Arsenal need to score more goals next season. For the first time since the 1923/24 campaign, no player in the famous red and white scored double figures in a league campaign.
Yes, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz endured multiple months out with injury, but it rubberstamps Mikel Arteta’s biggest problem heading into 2025/26.
