Arsenal have made Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres a priority target ahead of the summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta looks to add serious firepower to his frontline.
The 26-year-old Swede is coming off a sensational campaign in Lisbon, having netted a staggering 52 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions — form that has seen him rocket to the top of the European Golden Shoe standings and break long-standing records in the Primeira Liga.
Gunners Move Early in Striker Race
Under the direction of newly-appointed sporting director Andrea Berta, the Gunners have already opened talks with Gyökeres’s camp and lodged an official bid. While the forward’s release clause is set at €100 million, Sporting are reportedly open to negotiations and may settle for a fee in the region of €70–75 million.
Arsenal are also said to have tabled a lucrative contract offer worth €8.5 million per year (approx. £7 million) in an attempt to fend off competition from several of Europe’s elite — including Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, all of whom are keeping tabs on the red-hot Swede.
From Coventry to Continental Star
Gyökeres’s rise has been meteoric since leaving Coventry City just two years ago. His 2024/25 season in Portugal has been nothing short of remarkable. He bagged 38 goals in 32 league matches, becoming the first player since Mário Jardel (2001/02) to break the 35-goal barrier in a single Primeira Liga campaign.
He also etched his name into Champions League folklore, netting a hat-trick against Manchester City — making him the first Swedish player to do so since Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Despite suffering a hamstring setback mid-season, Gyökeres bounced back in style during the run-in, scooping the Primeira Liga Player of the Month award in March and managing to score against every opponent he faced in the league.
A Natural Fit for Arteta’s Arsenal
Should Arsenal get the deal over the line, Gyökeres would walk into the side as the club’s main man up front — ahead of both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Known for his raw power, intelligent movement and ruthless finishing, he looks tailor-made for Arteta’s high-tempo attacking system.
With Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and Leandro Trossard supplying the ammunition, Gyökeres could thrive as the focal point of an attack that already threatens to compete at the very top of English and European football.
The Gunners’ ambition is clear — and securing Gyökeres would be a major statement of intent. But with several heavyweights circling, Edu and Berta will need to move decisively in the weeks ahead to bring the Swedish sensation to north London.
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