Arsenal are still on course to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon to finally end a three-year wait for a striker to join their ranks – but one potentially incoming addition would be bigger than the Swede, and it’s not Noni Madueke.
Gyokeres has agreed on a £200,000-per-week deal with the Gunners, split over five years, and that should end their woes up front, having seen Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus suffer long-term injuries within three weeks of each other – setting up a hairy final few months of the season, resulting in no silverware.
Having already signed Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in their first major acquisition of the summer, as well as backup options in Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard, it now means that Mikel Arteta’s defence and midfield ranks are all set for the season – with attacking incomings on the agenda.
And, although they have submitted a bid for Chelsea star Madueke, a deal looks to be advancing for Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze – who would undoubtedly be a bigger signing than Gyokeres.
Eze has been on the radar of various clubs in the past year, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur both registering their interest in his talents, though Arsenal have entered the race – and reports by CaughtOffside state that the Gunners are ‘closing in’ on an agreement for the Palace star.
There is no doubting his quality, coming up with game-winning actions for Palace last season by scoring in each of the final three rounds of the FA Cup, as well as featuring for England at EURO 2024 and being the Eagles’ leading assist-maker.
Gyokeres would be big, but Arsenal have sometimes missed those ‘big game’ moments that other title-winning sides, Manchester City and Liverpool, have had in the past.
With the ‘elite’ Eze potentially joining with his five years’ worth of Premier League experience – compared to Gyokeres failing to make an appearance in the competition – his quality and ability to produce big-game moments ranks him ahead of the Sporting star.
Eze also supports the Gunners and played for them in his youth academy days after being released, so there is already an affiliation with the club, as well as being from London himself – and so it would mean a lot to the former QPR player and most likely the fanbase if he was to get a deal over the line.
Able to play off the left or ideally behind the striker, Eze would look to oust Gabriel Martinelli from his starting berth of Martin Odegaard from one of Arteta’s ‘number eight’ roles, especially with a tough schedule to contend with. That, coupled with a World Cup 2026 place up for grabs, means that playing for a top side and performing well on a weekly basis would all but secure Eze’s place on Thomas Tuchel’s plane to the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
