Viktor Gyokeres: Arsenal step up pursuit of Man Utd target after sporting director arrival | OneFootball

Arsenal have been described as "developing a strong interest" in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as the summer transfer window edges closer.

The Gunners have taken a big step forward in shaping the club's next chapter with the appointment of new sporting director Andrea Berta, following his era-defining spell at Atletico Madrid.

A striker has long been identified as a priority for Arsenal ahead of next season, having lacked a true 'number nine' for several years anyway, even before suffering the double injury loss of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus and being forced to use Mikel Merino as an emergency forward.

But where interest was previously more focused on Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, Berta's arrival from Spain already appears to have shifted things.

Isak may prove too expensive, or even completely off the market, while Ekitike is being increasingly linked with Manchester United as the Red Devils begin to explore other options, and Sesko lacks the prolific goal numbers compared to others.

With Isak thought to be Arteta's ideal, The Athletic writes that Gyokeres has "long been admired" by Berta. That alone makes the Swede a "more prominent candidate" than before.

Gyokeres has scored 85 goals in less than two full seasons at Sporting CP / Eurasia Sport Images/GettyImages

The rise of Gyokeres has been monumental. He was plucked from the obscurity of Sweden's second division by Brighton & Hove Albion in 2017, but never made a Premier League appearance for the Seagulls and was loaned out to second tier St Pauli and Swansea City, before a further loan and then permanent transfer to Coventry City after four years.

Two seasons in the Championship produced a very respectable 38 goals, but Gyokeres had never played top flight football when Sporting rolled the dice on the then 25-year-old in the summer of 2023. That gamble has massively paid off, however, with 43 goals across all competitions last season alone and another 42 in 42 games so far in 2024/25 as Sporting eye a domestic double.

But for every Liga Portugal star that goes on to thrive in the Premier League, like Bruno Fernandes, plenty of others struggle with the demands – notably Darwin Nunez.

Gyokeres is ready to test himself in the Premier League and is reportedly giving preference to sides capable of competing for major silverware immediately, with Arsenal said to have a real chance of snapping the Sweden international up alongside Liverpool and Manchester City.