The speculation that the Gunners will recruit a top striker to compete with Kai Havertz for the Arsenal attacking post appears to have died off in recent weeks. An intriguing hint about Arsenal’s move to bolster their attack before the transfer window closes has just surfaced.
A report by Correio da Manha suggests that Arsenal has revived interest in Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres. Gyokeres, with 58 G/A (43 goals and 15 assists), was the most productive player for a squad that competes in Europe’s top five leagues. He was unquestionably a player whose performance deserved a big move this summer, but it hasn’t. The Portuguese side’s insistence that the Swedish striker can only go for his £84 million release clause has given none of his suitors reason to try to sign him.
Arsenal could still try to clinch the Gyokeres deal, since Correio da Manha reports that they will send scouts to watch the striker play in pre-season. Gyokeres underwent minor knee surgery this summer, prompting the Gunners to monitor his preseason performance before making a transfer decision.
Sporting Lisbon are to face Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao in pre-season friendlies over the coming week, games in which Arsenal scouts are set to attend to get a closer look at Gyokeres (that’s if he plays in those games).
Could Gyokeres be the headline Arsenal signing that caps the Gunners’ 2024 summer business? The gooners should be hopeful.
Sam P
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minor knee surgery, how many zillion did they want again? I’m hoping that famous phrase from P.T. Barnum isn’t applicable here
From the look of things,there really is no stand-out striker out there in as much as fans are clamouring for one. The available ones are not proven enough/risky or just too costly. In my opinion,Arsenal should invest in a wide player for the attack because there are excellent options available in the market. They can go back for Sesko next year if he continues developing his obvious talent.That said,if a market opportunity arises for a quality striker,they should go for it.
Does fortune favour the brave or is it he who dares wins. There is a big gamble on three fronts:
1. Is he a croc?
2. Is he a one season wonder?
3. Will he fail to take his impressive form from a lower league to a higher more competitive league.
If the answer is no to all 3, then he will become a great Arsenal striker should we get him.
Our priority should actually be a 6 that can enable Rice to play 8. Perhaps Timber can do that. Then, we can think of a striker. I like Gyokeres because if he can’t score, he can provide an assist. So he rally fits Arteta’s style but the price tag is largely exaggerated for a player just barely proving himself
There’s a risk of varying degrees in every signing -cheaper and expensive (let’s not think Pepe) and it’s the same with Gyokeres.
Clearly, he isn’t cheap but strikers who score lots of goals aren’t. Arsenal is very unlikely to get one at anything near bargain-basement prices.
Will he/could he adapt to the PL and also remain fit? Who knows? Edu and his colleagues will be looking at the available options and deciding which of them (if any) represent the best bet in the “risk/reward stakes”.
In my opinion though, Arsenal is unlikely to win the PL in 2024-25 without a 20+ goal striker. I don’t see Havertz filling that role across the whole season.
is this the same quality local Portuguese outlet that has twice claimed a deal for Gyrokeres was all but done?
it is very interesting that given half the teams on the planet seem to be in for strikers, including Man U, Liverpool and Newcastle who all recently spent big on strikers, that no-one seems in for Gyrokeres, outside this ropey outlet not one bid or approach reported…
Have Arsenal buy Gyokores
If Arsenal could negotiate a much lower cost than his reported £84m release clause, I’d go for him.
His stats are unassailable; and his tutelage in the tough English Championship could be another plus for him
What I like about him most is that he not only scores goals, he assists them; which could make him invaluable playing besides our other goal scorers
But all forwards are not the same, they all bring different skill and strengths to a team. And it is the “right difference” needed, as this improves team performance, like a key opening a new door.
If you could clone Haaland, he would only be worth half the price to Man City, they already have that “difference” that “key”, but worth twice price to any team who don’t. For all the talk of Haaland being good at attacking a box, and good for a team outside it, he certainly isn’t. Gyokeres would be advantage Arsenal, as he certainly attacks from outside the box far better than Haaland ever will. That directness is needed like a “key” to unlock this Arsenal side – the blatantly obvious thing missing despite all the flair on display in the last competitive match v Everton. If the turn and directness from Gyokeres doesn’t result in goal for the striker, with defenders chasing backwards, it can for someone else. BTW I love Jesus, if you want to play direct, you can knock a ball to him and he can hold it as you transition and support. Gyokeres won’t be that player, his strength is on counter attack.
But – Arsenal do not have that fox in the box Augero/Gerd Muller either – no one currently at club have shown finishers instinct – to gamble/where to be for the tap in. Semih Kılıçsoy will be that player.
Buy both. A bench not of samey players, but different options to twist the game, different strengths. Jesus for patient hold up football/cup games. Semih for that late Monday night cross finding someone in the right place to tap in the winner. Gyokeres to add drive to your counters in the biggest games of the season. The point being none of them typical number 9s or remotely 30 goal a season players. But what options from your bench! Like a ring jangling with ALL the keys on it.
Part of me thinks that if he can score that many goals well then surely he’d do better at finishing our chances than our guys. The other part of me thinks that after watching his clips from last season it was very noticeable that there was a lot of poor defending and poor goalkeeping. So I’m a bit split on this one
If the price is right let us get him., but not for £84 mill. If we fail this season i dont think he will be a big loss. He is yet to really prove himelf. It is a big gamble at that price tag for a kne seasoner.