After moving to Jose Alvalade Stadium from Coventry City last year, the 26-year-old enjoyed a stellar debut campaign for the Lions last term, scoring 43 goals and registering 15 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions. He even guided his team to win the Liga Portugal title.
The forward has continued his impressive form this season as well, scoring 14 goals and notching up four assists in 14 games in all competitions. He has also been a key player for Sweden and made seven goal contributions for his country in the last four games.
So, following his recent emergence, he has attracted a lot of attention from several big clubs around Europe. He was linked with a move away from Jose Alvalade Stadium in the summer and Arsenal reportedly interested in him. However, Sporting eventually managed to keep hold of him.
Now, Plettenberg states that the striker has agreed to leave the Lions next summer and the Portuguese giants are open to accepting a cut-price deal of around £50m for him, although he has a £83m release clause in his current contract.
Gyokeres to Arsenal
The journalist says Arsenal are ‘specifically interested’ in signing the Swedish international but they are set to face tough competition from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City over this deal.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are the two options Mikel Arteta currently has to deploy in the centre-forward position following Eddie Nketiah’s departure to Crystal Palace in the summer.
Although Havertz has been in fine form for the Gunners in recent times, he hasn’t been a prolific goal-scorer in his career. On the other hand, Jesus has struggled to showcase his best and has found it difficult to stay fit.
Therefore, signing a new striker would be the right decision for Arsenal and there is no striker as prolific as Gyokeres in Europe at the moment. So, he should be a shrewd acquisition for the Emirates club if they purchase him.
However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually make a concrete approach to sign the Sporting star to bolster the attacking department.
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