Arsenal are looking to accelerate the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, who would be their next huge statement signing after Martin Zubimendi’s arrival in north London.
The Gunners are working on a deal to sign the Swedish international, football.london understands, in the latest significant update as Mikel Arteta’s side get prepped and ready for the 2025/26 campaign.
It was first reported in March 2024 that Gyokeres, 27, was a striker on the Gunners’ radar as they monitored his move from Coventry City in the Championship to Sporting CP in Portugal. Over the past two seasons he has netted 97 goals in 102 appearances, thus earning strong interest from those within the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal, who have been diligent in the way they’ve conducted business this summer, were also linked with a move for RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko. The 22-year-old Slovenian boasts his own strong record in front of goal moving through clubs under the Red Bull umbrella though is still considered more of a prospect.
On that front, talks have stalled with Leipzig recently whilst and the Gunners look to have turned their attention to Gyokeres and are in talks with Sporting. There’s hope they’ll be able to finally conclude a deal which could set Arsenal back £69.8m in total.
And as for when that could be, there is a date in mind. Arteta’s players return for pre-season training starting on Monday, July 6.
They will build up to match readiness and fly over to Asia on July 19, playing their first of three fixtures on the continent vs AC Milan on July 23.
With The Athletic saying it is the manager acting as the driving force in this process, football.london understands the club as a unit are extremely keen to conclude the Gyokeres deal so that he can be integrated with his new teammates during this period.
The other two fixtures in Asia are against Newcastle United (July 26) and Tottenham Hotspur (July 31). Arsenal then return home to the Emirates Stadium for their last friendlies against Villarreal (August 6) and Athletic Club (August 9).
The Premier League season gets underway at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday, August 17.
Arsenal officially announced the signing of Zubimendi earlier today and he’ll join his new Gunners colleagues on the tour of Asia.
The midfielder has joined from Real Sociedad in a move that has been in the pipeline for months. Arsenal have paid slightly more than his £51m release clause so that instead of paying the one sum as a whole, they have been able to split it into three instalments.
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was the first £5m summer signing and is also ready for pre season.
