Arsenal and Chelsea both want to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League
Arsenal could get a clear run at Viktor Gyokeres after rivals Chelsea were given a huge boost in their pursuit of Liam Delap. Gyokeres' future is set to be one of the biggest stories of the summer transfer window which opens on Sunday.
The Sporting Lisbon star has emerged as one of Europe's most in-demand strikers after scoring a sensational 54 goals in 52 games this season. Gyokeres, who turns 27 next week, fired Sporting to a league and cup double in Portugal, playing what could've been his final game for the Lisbon giants on Sunday.
Mirror Football reported earlier this month that Arsenal had made Gyokeres their No.1 transfer target, willing to offer him a bumper deal. It's also been claimed that the Gunners have made contact with alternative target Benjamin Sesko.
Mikel Arteta wanted to sign the Slovenian hotshot, 21, last summer, only for him to sign a new long-term deal at RB Leipzig. On Wednesday, it emerged that Sesko would cost a whopping £92.5million. Sporting have indicated that £60m would be enough - but it's not just Arsenal who've been linked.
London rivals Chelsea are also planning to sign a striker this summer, with the Sweden international on their radar. But Arsenal have been buoyed by developments at Stamford Bridge.
Ipswich Town striker Delap is understood to have chosen to join Chelsea over long-time admirers Manchester United. The Blues are managed by Enzo Maresca, who Delap worked with at former club Manchester City, and will play in the Champions League next season, giving them the edge over United.
How does Chelsea's move for Delap help Arsenal?
Chelsea signing Delap doesn't completely rule them out of the race for Gyokeres - we all know how Todd Boehly loves stockpiling his assets - but given that they already have Nicolas Jackson, it's highly unlikely that the Blues would shell out £60m for Gyokeres plus the £30m which they'd spend on Delap by paying his release clause.
Therefore, Arsenal are expected to have have one less competitor in the race to sign the 26-year-old. Chelsea could've offered him the same perks as the Guners, too: Premier League and Champions League football plus the chance to live in London.
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What have Sporting said?
This week, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha confirmed that the Primeira Liga champions are yet to receive any formal offers for Gyokeres. "He has three more years on his contract," Zenha reminded reports.
"At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract. I think the answer has been given. [Sporting's transfer plans] won't be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent.
"We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years... the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent.
"Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent."
Has Gyokeres dropped any hints?
After helping Sporting win the Taca de Portugal against bitter rivals Benfica on Sunday, Gyokeres was tight-lipped on his future. "Let's see, it's hard for me to say," the Swede replied when asked about his plans.
"Because yeah, it is football and you never know what's going to happen in the summer. So for me to say anything else than that is impossible."
Portuguese outlet A Bola claim that his girlfriend, Lisbon-born actress Ines Aguiar, 'promised' Sporting fans to do her upmost to convince Gyokeres to stay at Sporting for a third season. Meanwhile, his uncle, Chris, revealed that their family also want him to stay.
"I'm super happy, this is amazing," Chris was quoted as saying after the cup final. "We were here last year, it's the same spirit, the same people, the same atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic! Beyond words!"
Asked if the Gyokeres family felt a connection to Lisbon, Chris responded: "Yes, very much... yesterday at dinner we decided that he has to stay." And when asked if the ex-Coventry star would stay, he tellingly replied: "Yes, we think so."
Those comments were later put to Gyokeres, who said: "They [his family] really like Portugal; I think they want to be here and enjoy the city, the good weather, and all the atmosphere."