Arsenal could've saved themselves £65m on striker right under their noses

Viktor Gyokeres has been named as a new option for Arsenal in the January transfer window - but they have already missed out on signing him for significantly cheaper than the price they would have to pay next month. The Gunners are on the lookout for a new centre-forward to aid their title charge.

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Gyokeres, according to reports from Portugal, has been mentioned as a potential alternative to Brentford's Ivan Toney. The 25-year-old has plundered 17 goals and added eight assists in 20 matches for Sporting this season, helping them top the Liga Portugal and reach the Europa League knockout stages.

But Arsenal and Chelsea, who are also interested in both Toney and Gyokeres, have been informed that the Swede will cost £85million in January. That's the same figure as the release clause in his Sporting contract.

The Portuguese giants say the No 9 will be leaving for no less than that amount. And that represents a £65m mark-up on the price they paid in July to sign the player from Coventry in the Championship.

Gyokeres had scored 43 goals in two-and-a-half seasons with the Sky Blues and became their record sale despite only having a year left on his contract. He had earlier played for Brighton before going on loan to Coventry and then joining permanently.

Viktor Gyokeres will cost £85million if Arsenal want to sign him next month 

He managed 21 goals and 12 assists last term in England's second tier and took the club to the play-off final but they lost on penalties to Luton at Wembley. In his absence, having also lost Gustavo Hamer, Coventry have now sunk to mid-table.

And Arsenal will rue that they could have signed him for just £20m in the summer. Highly regarded Sporting manager Ruben Amorim even alluded to the fact he was right under the Londoners' noses very recently.

He said this week: “I think he’s improved the team; the fans like him a lot. We have to look at the other side; today there’s talk that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in him. He was in England, right next to them, in the Championship.”

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Premier League: Arsenal back on top in title race

Amorim added: “He has a cancellation clause and will only leave with that clause. If that happens, there’s nothing we can do.” But that figure could rule Arsenal out of a move given they didn't try to sign him for significantly less just a few months ago.Toney, with Premier League experience and who scored 20 top-flight goals last term, appears a likelier target. And Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke is another centre-forward who has been linked with the Gunners. He would seemingly cost a lot less than the £80m-rated Toney.

It is not yet clear who Arteta will make his No 1 option in the position. But it is obvious the Spaniard wants to add a ruthless finisher with a slightly different profile to rotate with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as Arsenal smell the chance to win their first Premier League title since 2004.