Arsenal appear to be ramping up their summer transfer plans after sending an official on another scouting mission to Lisbon last night.

The Gunners were reportedly present at the pivotal second leg of the Taça de Portugal cup tie between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.

The north London club has been heavily linked with two Sporting stars in recent months: defender Ousmane Diomande and striker Viktor Gyokeres. Both players featured prominently in the high-stakes clash, which ended 2-2 on the night but saw Sporting progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Portuguese newspaper Record reports that the Gunners were one of several clubs present with a keen eye on the Sporting duo. This fits with multiple earlier reports suggesting Arsenal are actively monitoring these two players in preparation for potential summer bids.

According to O Jogo, another Portuguese outlet, Arsenal are particularly impressed with Diomande’s development, while Gyokeres has been the subject of dedicated scouting missions. However, both players are protected by hefty release clauses – €80 million for Diomande and a staggering €100 million for Gyokeres. Securing both players would require a significant financial investment from the Gunners.

Last night’s cup tie provided a crucial opportunity for Arsenal’s representative to witness both players in a high-pressure environment.

Their performances, particularly Gyokeres’ assist (his fifteenth of the season) and full 90 minutes on the pitch, could play a decisive role in shaping Arsenal’s transfer strategy moving forward.

Gyokeres has scored 36 goals this season in 41 games, in addition to those 15 assists.