There is anxiety about the interest Arsenal hold in Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal have recently been credited with an interest in Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres. Mikel Arteta is thought to be weighing up a swoop for the player in the upcoming January transfer window, as reported by Portuguese publication Record (07/12/2023, page 8).
Arsenal are rumoured to hold an interest in a number of strikers at this time. Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke was recently said to be on the Gunners’ shortlist, a revelation that was met with dismay by many fans of the north London club.
Gyokeres is certainly a more inspiring target than Solanke, and the 25-year-old has been in prolific form so far this season. Across just twenty appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese outfit so far he has already racked up seventeen goals and provided eight assists.
Of course, there is a significant gulf in quality between the Portuguese top flight and the Premier League, but if Gyokeres could hit anything like those numbers for Arsenal, then he would be a revelation at the Emirates Stadium.
The 19-cap Sweden international is already well aware of the demands of English football, too. Prior to joining Sporting in the recent summer transfer window, Gyokeres plied his trade for Coventry City in the Championship. In his final season in the second tier he bagged 22 goals.
His former Coventry City teammate Maxime Biamou once described Gyokeres as being “unplayable.”
Sporting boss panicking over Arsenal approach for Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal’s interest in the Swede is exciting, and seemingly very real. It is certainly solid enough to have Sporting manager Ruben Amorim sweating over the player’s future. According to Correio da Manha, the coach is “losing sleep” over the prospect of Gyokeres making the move to north London.
Of course, losing a player who has been such a reliable source of goals, so soon after his arrival, would be a massive blow for the club.
That being said, Gyokeres is likely not at the top of Arsenal’s winter shopping list. Injuries have left the Gunners short on options at the back, meaning signing defensive reinforcements must be the priority for the club in January.
Meanwhile, if Gyokeres maintains his current form he will soon attract attention from huge clubs all over Europe. Arsenal could easily find themselves beaten to his signature or simply priced out of the race to secure his services.