Excl: Arsenal close in on 5-yr deal for “top player”, but Liverpool also in talks & Man Utd preparing bid
Arsenal are closing in on an agreement with Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres as they lead their Premier League rivals in this transfer battle.
CaughtOffside understands the Gunners are now at an advanced stage of their negotiations for Gyokeres, having offered him a five-year contract worth around £9m a year.
However, even if Arsenal remain the favourites to sign the Sweden international, there is also still strong interest from both Manchester United and Liverpool.
Sources have informed CaughtOffside that Man Utd are preparing to also make a bid for Gyokeres, while there have also been contacts with Liverpool as they look for a replacement for Darwin Nunez.
Viktor Gyokeres transfer interest is no surprise after prolific form
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates a goal for Sporting (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Gyokeres may not have played in the Premier League or any of the other big five European leagues before, but his numbers in Portugal are impossible to ignore.
The 26-year-old has a remarkable record of 95 goals in just 100 appearances for Sporting in all competitions since he joined them last season.
Gyokeres (described as a “top player” by Arsenal’s David Raya, via the Metro) would surely be an upgrade on the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal, with neither player looking like someone who can score 25-plus goals a season.
Could Viktor Gyokeres still end up at United or Liverpool?
It seems Arsenal need to be quick on this deal, though, as two of their biggest rivals also want Gyokeres this summer.
The former Coventry City and Brighton man is understood to favour playing in the Champions League next season, so that could make things tricky for United unless they win the Europa League final.
Liverpool would make sense as a tempting project, however, with Arne Slot’s side just winning the Premier League and looking like they could be a real force for many years to come.
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