Viktor Gyökeres, closer than ever to Arsenal: the key that tips the balance

The bidding for Viktor Gyökeres is at a boiling point. The Swede is set to be one of the major attractions of the upcoming transfer market, as his 43 goals and 11 assists in 43 matches with Sporting CP keep him on the radar of the top clubs on the continent, who will compete to secure the services of one of the best forwards in the game today.

In this sense, it would be Arsenal that would be in the 'pole position' to incorporate the Nordic player into their ranks. The interest of the 'gunners' in the player is not new, but it has gained momentum with the arrival of Andrea Berta as sporting director, as the Italian is a great admirer of the Swede and considers him a priority to strengthen Mikel Arteta's attack, which has been hampered by injuries this season.

The London club has been monitoring the scorer for months, and negotiations are progressing at a good pace. The good relationship between the Spanish coach and the player's agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has been a key factor in allowing conversations between both parties to flow smoothly, and reports from England suggest that, as of today, the forward's future would lead to the Emirates Stadium.

Gyökeres would have given the 'yes' to Arsenal

Indeed, Gyökeres is very attracted to the project presented by the Londoners, and his agents have informed Arsenal's officials of this. Arteta would want to make him the cornerstone of his attack, and the player prioritizes this factor over the financial component, which is why he would have given the 'green light' to try to bring the operation to a successful conclusion.

Although his release clause is 100 million euros, there is a verbal agreement between Viktor and Sporting CP to let him go for a figure between 65 and 75 million euros, a sum that the 'gunners' would be willing to pay once the summer window opens to finalize the striker's arrival in the English capital.

Barcelona remains on standby

At Can Barça, meanwhile, they do not intend to make a hasty decision and are carefully analyzing the various alternatives to replace Lewandowski in the center of the attack. Alexander Isak would be the top favorite of the sporting management, but the high figures involved in his operation make him a complicated option for the summer. Therefore, the name of Gyökeres remains on the table, although, for now, there have been no significant advances in his potential signing.

Manchester United is also in the race, driven by the connection between the Swede and his coach, Rúben Amorim, who brought out his best version at Sporting CP. However, the 'red devils' interest would be more measured compared to Arsenal's push, and their priority could shift towards other forwards like Victor Osimhen or Dusan Vlahovic if they fail to secure the Nordic player. The saga continues, but all signs point to an outcome that would favor the Londoners.