March 19th 2024.
Rumors are swirling in the football world as it seems that Arsenal has set their sights on the talented Viktor Gyokeres. The Premier League team is currently ahead of their rivals in the race to sign the free-scoring forward from Sporting.
Gyokeres was acquired by Sporting last summer for a mere fee of €20 million from Coventry City. Since then, the 25-year-old has been a force to be reckoned with in Portugal, topping the scoring charts with an impressive 22 goals in just 24 league games. Not only that, he is also second on the list of top assist makers in Primeira Liga, with only Benfica's Rafa Silva above him at the moment.
It's no surprise then that Gyokeres' impressive performance has caught the attention of some of Europe's biggest teams. But according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal is leading the pack in the English Premier League for the Swedish international's signature. However, they may face tough competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and other top teams in Spain and Italy once the season ends.
Sporting, however, is determined to keep hold of their star player and will only entertain a sale if his release clause of €100 million is met. This would set a new record for the club's transfer deals. In fact, the club is even considering increasing Gyokeres' salary and release clause to further protect their asset in the upcoming transfer window.
Speaking of release clauses, Gyokeres currently has a staggering £86 million release clause at Sporting, making it clear that the club values him highly. In April, his agents are expected to hold discussions with the club regarding his future, with Sporting potentially looking to raise his release clause to a whopping €120 million to ensure they are in the strongest position possible.
For Sporting, qualifying for the Champions League could be crucial in their efforts to keep Gyokeres at the club. As the Portuguese champions, they are guaranteed a spot in Europe's elite competition next season. Currently, they sit at the top of the league, just one point ahead of second-placed Benfica with a game in hand.
Back in January, there were speculations that Chelsea had made a £73 million bid for Gyokeres, but it was quickly rejected by Sporting. When asked about the offer, Gyokeres maintained his focus on the important games ahead, stating that he was not thinking about anything else.
Meanwhile, Sporting's head coach Ruben Amorim was also unfazed by the news, stating that the offer was not enough to lure Gyokeres away from Lisbon. He also mentioned that he was not aware of the bid and was not worried about it. With the player and the coach both focused on their current club, it remains to be seen if Arsenal can convince Sporting to part ways with their prized asset.
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