Transfer Talk: Arsenal make Gyokeres their No1 target up front

Arsenal have made Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres their No1 target this summer.

The Swedish forward has enjoyed a superb campaign for the Portuguese league leaders since joining from Championship outfit Coventry last July, scoring 33 goals in 37 games in all competitions.

And FootballTransfers indicate Gunners chiefs believe the 25-year-old has the perfect profile to fit into Mikel Arteta's style of play.

His ability to shine in multiple attacking positions is what has set him apart from other reported targets Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney, both of whom are more out-and-out No9s.

Picked up by Brighton as a teenager in 2018, Gyokeres became one of the Championship's finest strikers after moving to Coventry in 2021, netting 43 times in 116 outings for the Sky Blues.

The 19-cap international penned a five-year deal with Sporting last summer and reportedly has a release clause of roughly £85million.

Though it remains to be seen whether the Primeira Liga giants would be receptive to lowering their asking price if the North Londoners came in with a bid.

Sporting sit a point clear of fierce rivals Benfica and visit Atalanta in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie this evening, having drawn 1-1 in Lisbon last week.

In other news

Liverpool have told Barcelona that Luis Diaz is not for sale this summer and remains part of their long-term plans, according to The Mirror.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both keen on Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Willian Pacho, 22, according to 90min.

Manchester United want to bring former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino back to the Premier League from current club Real Sociedad, Spanish media have claimed.