Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres afterreaching an agreement with Sporting CP to sign the forward for £63.5million including add-ons. The Gunners have made the Sweden international their top No.9 transfer target after scoring 54 goals and providing 13 assists in 52 appearances last season.
Gyokeres, 27, made it clear that he wanted to sign for Arsenal, despite interest from Manchester United and Juventus, and it appears he has now got his wish. Sporting have accepted a bid worth £55m plus £8.7m in add-ons for the former Coventry City man, who is set to pen a five-year contract in north London.
Although a breakthrough has been made, Arsenal have got to make one final decision to make on Gyokeres. The Gunners need to select which shirt number to hand the Swede, when the move is complete.
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Gyokeres wore the No.9 jersey during his two years at Sporting. However, that shirt is accommodated, right now, by Gabriel Jesus and he might not be willing to give it up. That could prove to be a problem, though Gyokeres has worn a number of different shirt numbers during his career so far.
While he was at Coventry, Gyokeres used the No.12 in his loan spell before taking up No.17 when he was signed in a permanent deal back in 2021. Unfortunately, those two shirt numbers are once again occupied, as Jurrien Timber has the No.12 shirt and Oleksandr Zinchenho has the No.17 at the moment.
But that could soon change, as Zinchenko's Arsenal future is uncertain and he has been linked with a summer move to AC Milan. The Ukraine international has less than 12 months left on his contract at the Emirates Stadium. And should Zinchenko depart, Gyokeres could take his No.17 jersey.
Other shirt numbers Gyokeres has worn during his senior career are No.14 and No.42. Eddie Nketiah last used No.14 - most renowned as Thierry Henry's number - while Isaac Hayden last had No.42, when he was at the club.
Gyokeres is expected to complete his move to the Gunners in due course before flying out and meeting the rest of his teammates in Singapore.Mikel Arteta's side are out in South East Asia for a pre-season tour and face Newcastle United on Sunday in their next fixture, after playing AC Milan on Wednesday.
Arsenal have been quick to get their business done so far this month, having signed four players. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Noni Madueke have arrived for a combined £124m. Gyokeres and Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera are expected to be the next to sign for the Gunners.
Madueke became Arsenal's latest addition as he left Chelsea in a £52m deal. He is the fourth player to swap west London for north London across the last two years - including Kai Havertz and Jorginho - and Arteta has offered an explanation about why the Gunners have signed several players from the Blues.
"It's probably because they have some great players and a lot of players!" he said. "But we try to focus on the players that we want to sign, regardless of the club they are in. It's probably a coincidence.
"What is not a coincidence is the squad and the quality of the squad. While I'm here as well, I congratulate them for winning the Club World Cup because I think it was a big achievement for them."
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