Viktor Gyokeres has zeroed in on which Premier League club he will join this summer.
Arsenal and Manchester United have been leading the race to secure Gyokeres’ signature, with both clubs in dire need of a top-notch striker.
Now, talkSPORT understands the Sporting striker is edging closing to joining the Gunners.
“I had a message 24 hours ago indicating that Viktor Gyokeres has informed friends and family he anticipates joining Arsenal,” chief football correspondent Alex Crook stated on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“We know that Manchester United are interested in signing him as well, obviously there is that pre-existing relationship with Ruben Amorim.
“But Arsenal can offer Champions League football, maybe can offer a tilt at the title next season.
“However, Sporting are determined to negotiate hard; there has been a dispute between Gyokeres and the club because his agent mentioned they had a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave for £60 million, but it seems they’re seeking closer to £80 million.
“Arsenal are juggling both him and Benjamin Sesko, they’ve opened talks with Leipzig as well but at the moment, I would say Gyokeres looks the more likely.”
News of Gyokeres’ desire to join the Gunners comes just days after it emerged he was determined to push through a summer switch to the Premier League.
However, as Crook pointed out, he will not come as cheap as he may have thought due to Sporting’s desire to maximise his transfer value.
The 27-year-old has a release clause of £85m, but it has been claimed that the Portuguese club would accept around £60m.
That is because Gyokeres supposedly has a verbal pact in place with Sporting allowing him to leave for less after committing to staying for the 2024/25 campaign in which he scored 54 goals in just 52 games and won the Primeira Liga title.
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However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas shot any idea of a cheap sale down as he claimed the club ‘will not accept blackmail or insults now’.
“Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10 (£51.5 plus £8.5m),” Varandas said.
“As of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyokeres.”
Varandas’ comments prompted a cryptic response from Gyokeres on social media.
“There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false,” Gyokeres said.
“I will speak when the time is right.”
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Gyokeres would be Arsenal’s first signing of the summer window and a major statement of intent as they look to shake off the tag of perennial bridesmaid.
Mikel Arteta’s side ended the 2024/25 Premier League season in second, the club’s third-successive runners-up finish and ten points behind eventual winners Liverpool.
Should Gyokeres arrive at the Emirates, he will add some vital firepower to an attack in which no player registered more than ten league goals.
Kai Havertz finished as Arsenal’s leading goalscorer in the Premier League last term with a tally of nine, although he missed 14 games due to a mix of illness and injury.
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