Earlier this week, the Gunners confirmed their second signing of the summer after bringing in the Italian star Riccardo Calafiori. The North London club had already made David Raya’s move permanent earlier in the summer. It is now believed that Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino will imminently be announced as the next Arsenal arrival but, despite months of searching, no out-and-out striker has yet been brought into the mix.
Mikel Arteta had been keeping tabs on the likes of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen but no deals were signed.
According to reports in Spain, however, Arteta has not only once again made Viktor Gyokeres his top striker target, but the Gunners are said to have initiated contract talks with both the Sporting Lisbon star and his agent.
The reports claim that Arsenal’s sporting director Edu Gaspar has even managed to strike up a preliminary contract ‘agreement’ with the 26-year-old in-form forward but this now hinges on whether a deal can be completed with Gyokeres’ club.
The Swedish striker has enjoyed a phenomenal season in Portugal, after leaving Coventry City for the Primiera Liga last summer. He has scored 43 goals in 50 games and Ruben Amorim’s side have subsequently valued him at £86m - a previously thought unreachable figure for the Gunners.
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However, the club’s demands have since fallen to £68m, a much more manageable price tag for Arteta who could have snapped up both Gyokeres and Merino for a total of £93m by the end of the summer.
Arsenal are hopeful that the sales of both Emile Smith-Rowe and Eddie Nketiah can aid in their move for the Swedish sensation. While Smith-Rowe is posed to sign for Fulham for an initial £27m, with a potential £7m extra in add-ons, his fellow academy graduate Nketiah is being heavily tipped to move to Ligue 1 side Marseille in deal worth £25m as both attackers seek to secure more consistent game-time.
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