With 53 goals to his name in all competitions this season, Viktor Gyokeres has proven that he may be the ideal candidate to lead the line for Arsenal if they manage to sign him in the summer.
Gyokeres is set to leave Sporting and he has further cemented his status as a club legend after clinching his second Liga Portugal title in two seasons against Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday.
The Swedish international has the chance to bid farewell to the Portuguese giants with a bang by lifting the Taca de Portugal trophy against Benfica next weekend.
But in the background, Arsenal have launched a bid to sign Gyokeres as he seeks to advance his career away from Lisbon.
Despite the noise surrounding his future, Viktor Gyokeres has remained incredibly consistent on the pitch as he gears up to make the biggest move of his career in the coming months.
- READ MORE: What Viktor Gyokeres has just said about his future in Portugal after holding talks with Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres’ respectful attitude has prompted Sporting to lower asking price
Gyokeres would rather join Arsenal over Manchester United as he is a man with big dreams — prioritising guaranteed Champions League football over a reunion with Ruben Amorim.
While United could qualify for Europe’s elite competition if they beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, Mikel Arteta’s side have already booked their place amongst the continent’s elite sides next season.
Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that despite being linked with moves elsewhere to Arsenal amongst others, Gyokeres’ professionalism has led Sporting to reduce their asking price for him below his £84.1 million release clause: “They still have to play the Taca de Portugal final in the next days before closing the season and Viktor Gyokeres always wanted to be super respectful and this is why respectful is the crucial word.”
“This is why Gyokeres will be available this summer, he’s going to leave Sporting because the decision has been made.”
“But respectful is the key word to understand why he’s going to be worth less than the release clause. And obviously, it’s not about what we see on the pitch because probably on the pitch, he’s showing that he’s worth more than his €100 million release clause.”
Fabrizio Romano revealed Arsenal have a chance of signing Gyokeres for £54.7 million, as Sporting CP are grateful that he stayed at the Portuguese capital despite having offers to move to other sides in the past.
“The player is available for something around €65 million because one year ago, many clubs wanted to sign him and Gyokeres accepted Sporting’s position to keep him for one more season.”
“Then, when Amorim left the club in November, many clubs started asking for Gyokeres in January, he accepted to continue until the end of the season to respect the club. Now, Sporting will accept the conditions of Gyokeres’ exit.”
What Arsenal have noticed about Gyokeres as a character
Gyokeres looks likely to join Arsenal in the summer.
The former Coventry City striker is ready for a new challenge and Sporting are prepared to let him go imminently as they would like to avoid the prospect of a long-drawn transfer saga as well.
Andrea Berta believes Gyokeres will succeed at Arsenal from the get-go.
Berta believes the 26-year-old has the quality to become an instant starter for Mikel Arteta.
But perhaps most important, all the reports about Gyokeres’ character have been glowing, which is brilliant news for Arteta and Arsenal.
