A top target reportedly emerges for Arsenal as a new sporting director reshapes priorities – here’s what’s real and what remains up in the air.
In a report published by Correio da Manhã on April 11, 2025, journalist Mário Figueiredo outlines Arsenal’s growing interest in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres.
The story hints at a potentially massive summer move, but a closer reading of the report reveals a blend of verified details and informed speculation.
What’s beyond doubt is Gyökeres’s extraordinary form this season. The Swedish striker has scored 44 goals and provided 11 assists in 44 appearances for Sporting CP across all competitions.
In the Primeira Liga, he’s netted 31 goals in 27 matches, leading the league’s scoring charts. These statistics alone justify the rising interest from top European clubs.
The striker is under contract with Sporting until June 2028 and has a €100 million release clause.
According to the article, Sporting may be open to negotiating a deal in the €75–80 million range, potentially with performance bonuses or player loans involved.
One of the most eye-catching claims in the report is that Arsenal is willing to offer Gyökeres a five-year deal worth €220,000 per week – equivalent to an annual salary of €11.5 million.
However, it’s important to clarify that the report uses the phrase “está disposto a pagar” (“is willing to pay”). There is no mention of a formal offer being submitted to Sporting or the player’s representatives at this point.
This matters. While the financial terms mentioned could well be accurate in the context of internal planning or agent discussions, the club has not yet made an official move, at least, not one that has been publicly confirmed.
The report also emphasises the role of Arsenal’s recently appointed sporting director, Andrea Berta, in prioritising Gyökeres.
With his arrival, the striker has reportedly moved to the top of Arsenal’s list of summer targets. Other names mentioned include Benjamin Šeško (RB Leipzig) and Matheus Cunha (Wolves), though the focus is clearly on Gyökeres who is believed to favour a move to Arsenal.
According to the piece, Arsenal wants to wrap up the deal quickly, fearing that late moves from Manchester United or Chelsea could increase the transfer fee or complicate negotiations. That tallies with a report we covered yesterday from A Bola.
Given the competition and Gyökeres’s release clause, speed could be Arsenal’s best strategy.
Sporting, for its part, appears open to doing business but is under no pressure to sell. They hold the contractual leverage and will likely wait to see how the bidding landscape evolves.
Arsenal fans can take this report as a strong signal of intent. The club seems prepared to spend and is targeting a forward with elite-level output. However, no formal bid has been submitted, and as of now, this remains in the realm of speculation.
The figures reported make sense, the links are credible, and the ambition is real, but Gyökeres to Arsenal is not yet a done deal or even close.
For now, it’s one of the most promising transfer stories to watch heading into the summer.