Mistake message sent to Arsenal by Viktor Gyokeres as Mikel Arteta puts faith in favourite
Viktor Gyokeres has spoken of his current transfer situation while continuing to show Arsenal why snubbing him this summer may have been a mistake.
Arsenal did not opt to sign a center forward during the summer transfer window despite links to several potential options including Viktor Gyokeres. Eddie Nketiah was sold for a £30million pure profit that included £5million in add-ons.
This money was not reinvested with the club moving for late loan deals for Neto and Raheem Sterling. There was a strategy of restraint and an approach that focused on sustainability at Arsenal this summer, football News London understands, where they held firm on what they valued in the players they wanted to sign and the price tags of players they were willing to part with.
Nketiah’s sale was one aspect of this but while the club deserved praise for how it approached improving the sales reputation, this restraint perhaps went too far for many when it came to incomings. A striker felt a necessity for some fans and Gyokeres again was a prominent figure in those desires but in the end, he remained with Sporting CP.
It seems to be some surprise even to the 26-year-old that he remained in Portugal. Speaking to Sport Bladet, Gyokeres explained the reality of the summer window.
“They (Sporting) wanted most of the starting players to stay and held us tight. That’s how it turned out, but I enjoy Sporting very much, so for me it was no problem to stay,” he said.
“Of course. You want to play at the highest level. [The release clause] was probably a bit too much because nothing came of it. Of course, it’s a lot of money, but we’ll see what happens next window.
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“Nothing happened and it feels like I had a pretty good season. So yes, that’s probably why there was simply no move. But that’s what Sporting thinks I’m worth, and then you have to respect that.
“I enjoy myself very much in Sporting and can’t complain about anything, so it’s no problem for me to stay. Of course, you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.”
That next window comment certainly comes across as something of an openness still to move yet there have been some reports claiming that a brand new contract could be in the works. This would likely remove or elevate the current €100million (£ 84 million) release clause that he referenced as already being over what he felt he was worth.
He has begun the new season where he left off the last and perhaps showing Arsenal the mistake they made in not taking the gamble on him this past summer. In 2023/24 he was responsible for more than 50 goal contributions across all competitions and in the opening five games of the current campaign he already has seven goals and three assists.
The one-season wonder tag appears dead in the water after just five games but the question that lingers for potential suitors including Arsenal is whether these figures can transition to one of Europe’s elite leagues like the Premier League. That reality will remain a gamble until a club comes along to pay the fee and for Arsenal that time should probably be the next opportunity they get.