Arsenal Have ‘Made Contact’ to Sign £70m Striker Ahead of Summer Window | OneFootball

Arsenal Turn Focus to Viktor Gyokeres in Summer Striker Hunt

Gyokeres Hits New Heights in Portugal

After another season without silverware, Arsenal have turned their attention sharply to the transfer market. TEAMtalk report that the Gunners are now prioritising Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as their leading centre-forward target — a player who has exploded in Portugal with remarkable numbers.

Gyokeres, who joined Sporting from Coventry City in 2023, has transformed his game. He scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions during his first campaign and followed it up by firing 39 goals in Liga Portugal alone this season. It’s the sort of ruthless form Arsenal have lacked in the final third during critical moments.

Conrad Harder, a team-mate at Sporting, was quoted in The Mirror calling him “the best striker in the world,” a bold claim but one that underlines his influence on the title-winning campaign.

Photo: IMAGO

Arteta’s Tactical Fit and the Premier League Pull

TEAMtalk confirm that “Gyokeres is open to a move to the Emirates Stadium. The striker is enticed by the prospect of competing in the Premier League and challenging for silverware under Arteta.” It’s an important detail. The Gunners have long searched for a dynamic, versatile forward who can both score and facilitate. Arteta sees Gyokeres as exactly that — a striker who can lead the line but also adapt to Arsenal’s fluid attacking style.

It’s no surprise then that “Gyokeres’s name is firmly at the top of Arsenal’s shortlist, and that new contacts have been made this week.”

Challenges in Pursuit and FFP Headwinds

However, acquiring him is far from straightforward. Sporting have set a release clause of over £80 million and reportedly want around £70 million to do business. Arsenal, navigating Financial Fair Play considerations and pursuing reinforcements in other areas, may need to sell players to finance the deal.

There’s also expected interest from other top European clubs, but Arsenal’s direct approach and Arteta’s long-standing admiration could be decisive.

TEAMtalk noted that Arsenal’s interest in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has cooled due to the Magpies’ reluctance to sell — which further sharpens their focus on Gyokeres.

Photo: IMAGO

Subtle Signals from Lisbon

While Gyokeres hasn’t publicly committed to a move, he hinted at uncertainty when speaking to Manchester Evening News: “It’s football, I’m still here. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Nobody can predict the future.”

Meanwhile, team-mate Pedro Goncalves added fuel to speculation during Sporting’s title parade. “They say we won’t be three-time champions without Viktor [Gyokeres]. And now, what I want to say is that, we’ll see.” It’s a cryptic but telling message — suggesting the striker’s exit is more likely than not.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Arsenal, this move makes sense on every level. Viktor Gyokeres isn’t just about goals — it’s about presence, power, and a winning mentality that’s badly needed at the Emirates. Arsenal fell just short again this season, and a clinical forward could be the piece that finally completes Arteta’s puzzle.

The price tag is hefty, sure — but so was Declan Rice’s, and that deal proved transformative. This isn’t the summer for hesitation. With Manchester City and Liverpool likely to reload, Arsenal must act with intent.

There’s a slight concern that Gyokeres hasn’t yet played in a top-five league, but his dominance in Portugal — plus his Championship success at Coventry — suggest he’s ready. The physicality, the aggression, the composure in front of goal — he ticks every box.

If the club need to shift a few squad players to fund it, most fans would say do it. Players like Nketiah, Vieira or even Nelson haven’t kicked on. Use those wages wisely. Gyokeres, with Arteta’s guidance, could be the final flourish to a title-winning team.