Since his arrival at Arsenal, new sporting director Andrea Berta has been championing Viktor Gyokeres’ name.
Berta arrived at Arsenal fully aware that the Gunners needed a new striker to boost Mikel Arteta’s chances of winning silverware next season.
In an ideal world, Arsenal would simply take Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, who is arguably now the best striker in the Premier League.
However, Isak is probably beyond Arsenal’s reach this summer — something Berta seemed to recognise fairly quickly after his arrival.
In fact, Berta made a list of Isak alternatives shortly after meeting Arsenal’s transfer team, and Gyokeres was right at the top.
Arsenal have made contact with Gyokeres’ camp, but it seems as if any reports of a bid being tabled are slightly premature.
Andrea Berta has scouted two of Viktor Gyokeres’ Sporting teammates
That being said, Record in Portugal are now reporting that Arsenal are actually interested in signing two more Sporting CP players this summer.
On a recent scouting trip it became clear that Arsenal were also interested in Ousmane Diomande and Francisco Trincao according to the report — a duo who are much coveted in Europe already.
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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Diomande, a centre-back who is believed to have a price tag of around £50m this summer.
Moreover, Manchester United are scouting Trincao themselves, a versatile forward who was once on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ books in the Premier League.
Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Arsenal have followed Diomande for some time — he was thought to be on the club’s radar whilst Edu was still around.
The 21-year-old is emerging as one of the most promising defenders in Europe, explaining why he could be perfectly positioned to provide competition for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Francisco Trincao doesn’t make sense for Arsenal
Jakub Kiwior wants to return to Italy this summer and perhaps Diomande is being envisioned as a replacement.
Right now it seems easier to imagine how Diomande would fit into Arsenal’s plans than Trincao, who doesn’t necessarily appear as an upgrade on the Gunners’ current options.
Berta wants to sign a right-footed left winger this summer, someone who can go beyond Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s levels this season.
And whilst Trincao thrived under Ruben Amorim in Portugal, he doesn’t quite appear to be that profile just yet.
Arsenal are interested in Jamie Gittens at Borussia Dortmund and perhaps he would be a much more exciting pick-up, even if Trincao also has his strengths too.
