After securing a deal to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Arsenal will be keen to press on with the remainder of their business this summer.
Over at Liverpool, Arne Slot has spent nearly £200m already this summer improving a squad which already pipped Arsenal to the Premier League title.
And if Mikel Arteta is going to finally end Arsenal’s wait for a league title next term, then new sporting director Andrea Berta will need to get this summer spot on.
In addition to the central midfielder, Arsenal also want a striker and new elite winger over the coming months — no easy task for Berta in his first summer with the club.
However, the Gunners have already identified some key targets, and Arsenal have been in talks with Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting CP for some time.
Right now it’s believed that Arsenal will sign either Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko to solve their striker conundrum.
But in terms of the club’s interest in Gyokeres, they might need to make a decision swiftly, given the Swedish striker is finding the lack of movement from north London ‘incredibly frustrating’.
That’s according to journalist Andy Brassell who was speaking on the ‘On the Continent’ podcast, explaining Gyokeres’ predicament.
Brassell firstly laid out the reasons why the striker was keen to leave, as well as adding that Sporting had somewhat gone back on a previous agreement between the two parties.
He said: “Firstly the fact that there’s not going to be any European football and secondly the fact that it’s been clear that they are not exactly flush over the last little while.
“And then the fact that when Gyokeres has gone to the open market, Frederico Varandas, the Sporting president, has gone back on what Gyokeres and his camp feel is his word of letting him go for a lower figure.
“And they’ve even threatened him recently because they’re not happy with the offers that have come in.
“They’ve been threatening him and his agent with charging the full release clause. Now, look, I don’t think that will happen. I think something will still come about.
“But the fact that Arsenal have been interested but not all in and from what I gather have not actually made an official offer yet.
“That has been incredibly frustrating for Gyokeres. It’s been incredibly frustrating for Sporting as well, and it’s given a bit of encouragement to Juventus.”
Of course Manchester United also want Gyokeres this summer, explaining why Berta may be playing a risky game.
Berta has introduced new transfer tactics at Arsenal that seemingly involve having multiple deals on the go at one time, only to then opt for one at the last minute.
And therefore, Gyokeres may not respond well to being something of a buffer for Arsenal’s move for Sesko, if that is ultimately the case.
But in terms of Gyokeres’ price this summer, TBR Football understands that the striker thought he could leave for around £60m, a gentleman’s agreement he had with Sporting.
However, it’s ultimately now expected that Sporting want a deal worth around £68m, depending on how much of that fee is guaranteed.
It’s a messy situation, but Gyokeres believes he will join Arsenal via reports, a striker who is seemingly very keen to try his hand in the Premier League.
