Arsenal have the opportunity to put together one of the most potent attacks in the country by signing Sporting talisman Viktor Gyokeres to partner Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners are looking to add a new striker to their ranks to compete with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz after it became clear that more depth is required in the position if Mikel Arteta’s men are to contend for major silverware.
With reports emerging last week indicating that Gyokeres had already told friends and family that he “expects to join Arsenal” this summer, sporting director Andrea Berta and his entourage have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of a centre-forward. It is imperative they take advantage of the Swede’s willingness to move and get a deal over the line.
Purchasing a player of Saka’s talent in the current market would likely set any club back by a significant fee, but Arsenal were fortunate to produce a player of his calibre in their Hale End youth academy. The English international has been a mainstay for the North Londoners for quite some time, and he has firmly established himself as one of the best footballers in the world.
While capable of scoring plenty on his own, Saka’s best qualities are often associated with his deadly creative threat, and Arsenal have lacked a prolific number nine to make the most of the chances he creates each game. Kai Havertz deserves credit for stepping up – especially when many were skeptical over whether he could thrive as a central striker – but even his improvement owes plenty to Saka’s brilliance on the right flank.
If Saka were to now be paired with a ruthless and clinical finisher instead, it could take Arsenal’s attack to an entirely new level, and there are few centre-forwards with remarkable goalscoring numbers quite like Sporting’s Gyokeres.
The Swedish international netted 54 times and provided a further 12 assists in just 52 outings last term. Only Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe ranked higher in the race for the European Golden Boot.
Arsenal could be asked to cough up close to an £80 million fee to sign the “” Gyokeres, but it is a deal certainly worth doing if the North Londoners are interested in maximising the playmaking potential of Saka.
