Arsenal are still waiting for a new striker to come in through the door at the Emirates Stadium. A hugely important year for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta’s men are yet to sign a single player at a time when rivals Liverpool and Manchester City have made real statements in the transfer market.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of players, most notably Martin Zubimendi, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres. The potential arrival of one of the attacking duo really could help elevate the team to the next level as they are in desperate need of a proven goalscorer.
Gyokeres is someone who certainly knows where the back of the net is after two remarkable years with Sporting CP following his move from Championship side Coventry City. The Swede has netted a remarkable 97 goals in 102 games for the Portuguese club, thus seeing him linked with a big-money move to the Premier League.
Gyokeres is so much more than just a goalscorer, though, as he is a powerful frontman with excellent running power and someone who is more than capable of creating chances for his teammates. So what exactly would Arsenal be signing in the 27-year-old if they are to wrap up a deal for him ahead of the 2025/26 season? football.london takes a look below at what those who know him best have said:
Former Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim on Gyokeres
“Now Viktor gives us a different ability to go deep,” he told Sporting CP’s official website. “He transforms the team because he makes us more dangerous at all times in the game. He has great physical attributes that come through especially at the end of the game.”
Former Swansea City and Coventry City teammate Jake Bidwell on Gyokeres
“If you’d told me then he would have been banging in goals in the Champions League in three or four years’ time I would have found it hard to believe,” Bidwell told the Manchester Evening News. “He joined Coventry on loan and then signed for them permanently. All the lads have said when he came back in the summer after signing permanently, he was a different animal.
“He had been working out in the gym all summer, and it was almost like he was a different man. He was still young at the time and growing into himself but the main thing was his belief grew from there.
“With the way he plays as well, with his aggression, the two (qualities) go hand in hand with how well he has done. He all of a sudden realised how quick and strong he was and had the confidence to use it and mixed with the aggression, it’s made him pretty unstoppable.”
He added: “Even if he doesn’t score, he isn’t the type of striker who isn’t contributing much to the game. The way that he plays he is just a constant threat. He can go in behind, he can hold the ball up, he’s a nightmare for centre-halves to play against because he is up and at you and all-action all the time.
“He has improved his game in every aspect since I first seen him but the main thing that sets him apart is his aggression. Nothing seems to affect him and he has developed a bulletproof mentality. Sporting is a massive club in Portugal and obviously the level is different but he has already shown he can play for a big club on a massive stage like the Champions League.
“There is always an unknown but knowing Viktor, he fully believed he was going to handle himself. When he was coming towards the end of his time at Coventry, there was no way he wasn’t going to succeed because his belief was that strong.
“That is something you need to be a top player and he has shown he has got that and made the step up look easy really. He has become the main man for his country, too, alongside Alexander Isak and he just seems to take everything in his stride. I don’t see why that wouldn’t continue [if he joined Manchester United].”
Ex-Coventry City boss Mark Robins on Gyokeres
“You can’t replace him. Everyone needs to know that and should know that,” Robins told CoventryLive back in November 2022. And in the football department, everyone does know that. So he’s a one-of-a-kind. There aren’t that many around. I think that, certainly, he is priceless!
“I think everyone talks about whether you can keep hold of people but let’s just enjoy everybody while we have them and get on with things. There’s too much time spent talking about whether we can keep hold of people. The truth of the matter is that at some point players move on, managers and staff move on.
“But in the meantime, let’s just enjoy it. Let’s enjoy the moment. The supporters are the one constant and we are trying to please them and make sure they are happy as often as possible. And they reciprocate and that’s why it works so well.”
More from Robins
“Listen, it’s all down to Vik. You get guided through your career but the fact that he’s the character that he is, the person he is and the drive that he has, everything is intrinsic; it’s in his DNA,” he said, as reported by CoventryLive.
“I remember saying when we first signed him that he’s in a rush, and that was how it appeared. He was looking to try to move as high as he possibly could do as quickly as he possibly could do. And we were a penalty kick away (in the play-off final) from seeing what he could be like in the Premier League with us.
“Since he has gone to Sporting it is a different league and he is playing with different players and a different quality and he’s gone and shot the lights out there. And, as happens, there are a lot of eyes on him, coveting his services, and I am sure Sporting will be as keen to keep hold of him. That remains to be seen but I think he’s one of the top performers and certainly one of the best strikers in Europe now.”
He added: “I think we’ll always look on him with fondness. I was looking back at a couple of games recently and looking at what he was doing then; the fact that his levels go up all the time. When we signed him and he came in he looked like a totally different player but he looked like he was in a rush, going to do what he wanted to do and shoot the lights out and then move on. I always hoped it would be with us and we almost, almost got there. We just fell agonisingly short and then he moved on. But his career has moved on as well.”
Sporting CP boss Rui Borges on Gyokeres
“Viktor is a player… I think there are no words: it is unlikely that another player of his quality will emerge in our league over the next few years. He is clearly above average,” said Borges.
“Sporting recognised his talent, and here we are. Fortunately, we have him at Sporting. We must make the most of the time we have with him because he is truly exceptional.
“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games.
“The collective effort also plays a role, as no one can succeed alone. Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”
More from Borges
“He has a contract. I won’t speculate on whether he will stay or go. However, I genuinely believe that he is the best striker in Europe, perhaps in the world,” he admitted. “I hope he can win the Golden Boot; he deserves it for all he has contributed to the team and the group, especially during challenging moments with injuries. We will see what the future holds.”
Sporting CP teammate Maxi Araujo on Gyokeres
“He’s a beast, an animal. He’s surprised me a lot since the day I arrived. He’s like that in training, he’s a competitive animal,” he said. “He can score three goals and want to score the fourth. He reminds me a lot of Luis Suarez.
“He only knows how to score goals, always scoring goals and running after every ball. When the team needs something, he pulls a rabbit out of the hat, a corner, a foul. Sometimes when the team isn’t doing so well, he’s very important in that minute.”
