Arsenal are ready to fork out the asking price for a star transfer target after loosely agreeing contract terms with him, according to reports, with Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta now set to put full focus into the summer window after the Gunners’ Champions League defeat.
PSG end Arsenal’s Champions League dream after 2-1 victory
Luis Enrique and PSG put an end to Arsenal’s hopes of ending the season on a high and winning Europe’s most prestigious trophy.
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Arsenal: Berta wants £119k-per-week PSG star after failed Atletico deal
Berta attempted to sign him for the La Liga side.
Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a comfortable 3-0 lead on aggregate last night, comfortably ending the semi-final tie before Arsenal star Bukayo Saka grabbed a consolation, even if the Englishman gave Arteta’s side brief hope of an unlikely comeback.
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Arsenal’s final Premier League games |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Liverpool (away) |
May 11th |
|
Newcastle United (home) |
May 18th |
|
Southampton (away) |
May 25th |
The north Londoners’ dismantling of Real Madrid in the last round gave many supporters real optimism Arsenal could win their first ever Champions League title, but they are now set to end 2024/2025 trophyless after Liverpool also cruised to the Premier League title.
Some questions are even being asked of Arteta, with Arsenal boasting just one trophy since the Spaniard took charge, despite registering a net spend of around £500 million on transfers in that period.
In any case, Pep Guardiola’s former understudy has also guided them from the fringes of a top six place to genuine title contenders, and they were desperately unlucky not to win the Premier League last season after accumulating nearly 90 points.
It is now back to the drawing board for Arteta, who has a fresh weapon at his disposal in the form of new sporting director Berta, who is set to back the Arsenal boss this summer in an anticipated summer rebuild.
Arsenal are expected to finally sign a proven goalscorer when the window reopens, and they’ve been repeatedly linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
A report from Football Transfers earlier this week claimed that Arsenal are “edging closer to finalising a deal” for Gyokeres, with both the Swede and Arteta’s side “aligned” on the contract package he would receive.
With personal terms said to be loosely agreed, the main obstacle between Arsenal and the 26-year-old’s signature is Sporting.
Arsenal “ready to pay Sporting’s asking price” for Viktor Gyokeres
While further meetings and talks are required to shake hands on a club-to-club deal, Football Transfers have now shared another update on Arsenal’s ambitions for the ex-Coventry City star.
The outlet reports that Arsenal are “ready to pay Sporting’s asking price” for Gyokeres, but they don’t state exactly what the Primeira Liga side would demand.
Other media sources, like Fabrizio Romano, claim the package could be somewhere in and around £60 million, while Portuguese newspaper A Bola reports that the demand for Gyokeres’ signature may skyrocket his price to near the £85 million release clause in his contract.
While discrepancies surround the requirements to sign Gyokeres this summer, Arsenal appear very serious about striking a deal for the striker who’s scored a truly exceptional 52 goals in 49 appearances this season.
Described as a “phenomenon” by Sporting boss Rui Borges, it appears inevitable the forward will depart Portugal very soon.
