A clinical striker has reportedly expressed his willingness to join Arsenal, largely thanks to Andrea Berta’s influence, while details regarding the expected transfer fee have also emerged.
Currently, Arsenal trails Liverpool by 11 points with only seven matches left in the season, suggesting that their chances of clinching the Premier League title are slim again. The Gunners are likely to finish as runners-up for the third consecutive season and are aware of the shortcomings that have led to this situation.
One of the primary issues Arsenal aims to address promptly when the summer transfer window opens is their lack of a formidable striker.
While Alexander Isak remains a top target for Mikel Arteta, Newcastle has no plans to negotiate his departure. They have placed a £150 million price tag on him, which may deter Arsenal, especially if Isak chooses not to leave should Newcastle qualify for the Champions League.
Consequently, The Guardian indicated that Arsenal is beginning to accept Isak is beyond their reach. The focus has shifted towards more attainable options, including Viktor Gyokeres.
The Sporting CP striker has impressively scored 44 goals in 44 matches this season, making him a more ‘realistic’ target compared to Isak and available at a considerably lower price.
Gyokeres has a release clause set at €100 million, but a ‘verbal agreement’ involving him, his agents, and Sporting’s management could allow him to leave for a significantly lesser amount. Reports from Fabrizio Romano suggest that a deal could be negotiated for around €65 million to €70 million.
According to sources, contact has been made between Gyokeres’ representatives and Arsenal officials, and the latest information from Portugal states that the striker has given his nod to join Arsenal.
Berta’s Influence as Gyokeres Agrees
As noted by Correio da Manha (referenced by Sport Witness), Gyokeres has already indicated his approval to Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta. Berta has taken over Edu’s role and is seen as a crucial factor driving Arsenal’s interest in Gyokeres.
The report adds that Berta opted for Gyokeres over Wolves’ Matheus Cunha and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and he played a decisive role in convincing Gyokeres to come aboard, indicating Arsenal’s capability to attract top talent during his tenure.
Although a personal agreement seems likely, Arsenal still needs to finalize a club-to-club arrangement with Sporting. It is reported that Sporting officials are expecting to complete a transfer for a fee between €80 million and €90 million, which exceeds the previously mentioned €65 million to €70 million range related to the verbal agreement.
Moreover, Sport Witness concluded that if a deal is reached between Arsenal and Sporting for Gyokeres, an official announcement is not anticipated until July, allowing the Portuguese club to incorporate the sale into the new financial year.
Latest Arsenal Transfer News – Interest in Striker Rayan
In related news, TEAMtalk has revealed that Arsenal has entered the race—alongside Tottenham and other competitors—to sign forward Rayan from Vasco de Gama. They need to act quickly to meet his appealing release clause, especially with comparisons being made to legendary striker Adriano.
The 18-year-old talent has caught the attention of clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool, Brighton, Bayern Munich, and Fiorentina this season, and it has been confirmed that Arsenal is now actively considering a move for Rayan. This comes as chief scout Pablo Xavier, who joined Arsenal in 2014 after his time at Real Madrid, has marked Rayan as a potential target.
The teenager’s contract with Vasco de Gama includes a release clause that could see him join for under £15 million this summer. For more details about the transfer pursuit of Rayan, you can read TEAMtalk’s exclusive story.
