Top striker tells friends and family he expects Arsenal switch | OneFootball

Arsenal Close in on Viktor Gyökeres as Striker Signals Premier League Move

Goalscoring priority for Arsenal’s next step

In a summer that promises to shape Arsenal’s title credentials for the coming season, the pursuit of a centre-forward who can both finish and lead has taken centre stage. According to TalkSport, Sporting CP’s prolific striker Viktor Gyökeres is edging closer to a move to the Emirates, with the Swedish international reportedly telling friends and family he expects to join the Gunners.

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The situation is still fluid. “I had a message 24 hours or so ago suggesting that Viktor Gyökeres has told friends and family he expects to join Arsenal,” said TalkSport correspondent Alex Crook. Manchester United remain in the background, yet Arsenal’s offer of Champions League football and the prospect of a sustained title challenge appear to have tipped the scales.

It would be a significant coup, and one that signals Mikel Arteta’s growing impatience with moral victories. Another second-placed finish, their third in a row, has reaffirmed the need for ruthlessness in both boxes, and Gyökeres, with 54 goals in 52 games, represents the kind of killer instinct Arsenal have lacked.

Transfer tug-of-war with Sporting

Sporting are, understandably, in no mood to let their talisman go on the cheap. Despite reports of a gentleman’s agreement, the club’s stance is firm. “Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10,” stated club president Frederico Varandas, “as of today, Sporting has not received any proposal for Gyökeres.”

There is frustration brewing between the player’s camp and the club hierarchy. Gyökeres is understood to have had a verbal pact with Sporting allowing him to leave for around £60 million. The release clause stands at £85 million, though some believe a compromise in the region of £70 million could still be brokered.

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Responding to the noise, Gyökeres offered a cryptic post on social media: “There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”

Striking deficiency at Emirates underscores urgency

Arsenal’s need is real. Last season, no player in red and white managed double figures in the league. Kai Havertz, primarily a midfielder, finished as top scorer with just nine. While Havertz impressed, injuries and a lack of natural centre-forward instincts limited his overall contribution.

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Mikel Arteta has juggled his frontline, from Gabriel Jesus to Mikel Merino, yet none have made the No. 9 shirt theirs. A player of Gyökeres’ physique, composure and finishing touch would offer Arsenal a focal point they have long been missing.

Alongside the potential arrival of Benjamin Šeško, whose talks with Leipzig continue, Arsenal are leaving little to chance. The Gunners know a reliable No. 9 could be the missing piece in a squad already brimming with technical quality and tactical cohesion.

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Timing and leverage define final outcome

Sporting’s Club president may talk tough, but Gyökeres’ desire to leave — coupled with his age, achievements and verbal assurances — suggests a move is inevitable. The only question is whether Arsenal can meet Sporting’s demands without compromising their broader summer strategy.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Arsenal fans, this is exactly the kind of transfer that turns contenders into champions.

Viktor Gyökeres is not just a goalscorer, he’s a force. A striker who can bully defenders, link play and find the net with composure. To hear that he has privately expressed his wish to join Arsenal is a thrilling prospect for the Arsenal faithful. This is a club that has done so much right under Mikel Arteta, but still lacks a consistent, clinical No. 9.

Fans remember the lean years post-RvP, the gamble on Alexandre Lacazette, the short flashes from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Gyökeres, with his 54 goals in 52 games, feels different. More complete. More confident. More decisive.

Yes, Sporting will drive a hard bargain, but so they should. Quality costs. Yet this feels like a deal Arsenal must get done. Arteta’s project is ready to evolve, and Gyökeres could be the finisher who fires the Gunners from second place to the summit.

It is not just about signing a striker. It is about announcing intent. Arsenal have flirted with glory — this is their moment to fully commit.