‘Arsenal must complete phenomenal Gyokeres deal after handshake’
Arsenal have made no secret of their hunt for a new marquee striker as the summer transfer window re-opens.
RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are the subject of long-term interest at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta‘s side are in desperate need of striking reinforcements after struggling in the wake of injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus last term.
Arsenal have now finished runners-up in the Premier League in each of the last three campaigns and have not won a major trophy since 2020.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has urged the Gunners to pursue a “phenomenal” deal before the transfer deadline in September.
Arsenal told to sign ‘very, very special’ striker
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Viktor Gyokeres could become a “very, very special” player in the Premier League and backed him to make the grade at Arsenal.
The Sweden international has also attracted interest from Man United after Ruben Amorim took charge of the forward at Sporting CP.
Wyness claimed Gyokeres, who has a release clause of around £85million, would prefer a move to Arsenal over the “circus” at Old Trafford.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I hope he is the answer to Arsenal’s striker problems.
“I watched him a lot at Coventry. He’s got an amazing scoring rate, I think something like 90 odd goals in 100 games for Sporting, it’s phenomenal.
“However, that’s in lower-quality leagues rather than the Premier League.
“There’s no doubt he could be very, very special. It’s a big number to take a risk on but I think you know Sporting have said they’re not going to do for less than the £85million or whatever the number is that is in his release clause, not the amount that there’s apparently been a handshake on.
“I think Arsenal are probably the right ones to have him there, he would fit well in that squad.
“Arsenal would be far preferable than coming into the circus that is Man United.”
Arsenal green light defender exit
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (18 June) that Arsenal have decided to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko amid interest from AC Milan.
Zinchenko came close to leaving the Gunners in January, and it now almost certain that he departs this summer.
The Ukraine international is surplus to requirements after Miles Lewis-Skelly’s breakout season, with Riccardo Calafiori another option at left-back.
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