Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Boavista v Sporting CP - Estadio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal - April 27, 2025 Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Miguel Vidal
Arsenal met with the agent of Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres on Wednesday of this week and are now favorites to sign the player, according to Portuguese outlet Record. This is a fresh twist in what has become a bit of a saga, with Arsenal also known to be interested in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal reportedly listed Gyökeres as an alternative to Sesko, but could now switch focus to the former after reports of talks between Leipzig and Arsenal for Sesko stalling.
Gyökeres is one of Europe’s most coveted strikers thanks to his eye-catching goal tally with Sporting over the past two seasons.
He has scored 97 goals in just 102 appearances for the club, having made the switch to Portugal from Coventry in 2023. He bagged 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions last season.
The Sweden international also lead the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League scoring charts with 9 goals, pipping Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.
Arsenal leading the race for Gyökeres
Arsenal are among several interested suitors for the player. Gyökeres is reported to be frustrated that Sporting are not honoring a gentleman’s agreement that he can move for €60 million, plus €10m in add-ons.
Instead, the back-to-back Portuguese champions have been demanding a transfer fee of €80m. Sporting president Frederico Varandas has denied any such agreement, insisting instead that the club only agreed to sell the player for less than his €100m release clause.
Arsenal have now moved into “a new phase in the contacts” according to Record, after meeting the player’s agent Hasan Cetinkaya.
The report adds that this contact has pushed Arsenal to the front of the queue ahead of Man United and Juventus, and should result in a formal approach for the player in the coming days.
Arsenal have so far been quite in the transfer window. The club are reportedly closing in on the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, but there has been no official confirmation so far.
Reports of conversations taking place for other top targets have circulated but so far no official bids have been launched. A striker and left winger remain top targets for Mikel Arteta, and several forward players have been linked with a switch to the Emirates.
Keiran Tierney, Jorginho, Raheem Sterling, and Neto have all departed Arsenal this summer while Thomas Partey remains locked in negotiations over a new deal at the club.
About the Author
