Arsenal have already submitted an initial offer for the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP this summer, according to a report.
Marta Garcia of ElNacional.cat reports that Arsenal are aware of their urgent need for goals, so they’ve made their move for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres before anyone else.
Garcia claims the Gunners have submitted an initial offer of €60m (£50.9m), with sources close to the talks suggesting contact between Arsenal and Sporting has intensified in recent weeks.
Mikel Arteta reportedly believes Gyokeres is a good fit for his Arsenal side, and the club hope to get ahead of a potential bidding war for the player.
Yet Sporting are in no rush to sell, knowing there’s a limited market for strikers at the moment.
Arsenal are reportedly trying to put pressure on Sporting, but the Lisbon club insist that only a figure close to Gyokeres’ release clause €100m (£84.8m) would trigger an immediate sale. Otherwise, they’re willing to wait and see what proposals they receive.
Fabrizio Romano reported in April that Gyokeres’ representatives had been in England for meetings and talks with potential future clubs. The race is open, but his departure is effectively a certainty.
The 26-year-old reportedly has a verbal agreement with Sporting to leave for a bid in the region of €65-70m this summer.
Gyokeres now has 52 goals and 12 assists for Sporting in 49 games this season. His campaign isn’t done yet, with Sporting sitting top of the Liga Portugal on goal difference with two matches remaining.
The next game is the big one, with the league’s top-two teams facing off on Saturday, May 10th.
The winner of that game almost certainly wins the league, and a draw would hand Sporting a narrow advantage going into the final day.