Fabrizio Romano has shared a transfer update out of Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side closing in on another summer signing ahead of their fourth-successive challenge for a Premier League title.
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Andrea Berta is swiftly moving on to his next target after Viktor Gyokeres.
Arteta’s side fell desperately short in their bid for title glory last season, lagging 10 points behind eventual champions Liverpool by the final matchday, and this can be put down to a number of factors.
Injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and more seriously hampered the Gunners, with Arsenal also struggling to break down teams in the low block to an even greater extent than their previous two campaigns.
|
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) |
Money on new signings |
|---|---|
|
19/20 – winter |
£0 |
|
20/21 – summer |
£81.5m |
|
20/21 – winter |
£900k |
|
21/22 – summer |
£156.8m |
|
21/22 – winter |
£1.8m |
|
22/23 – summer |
£121.5m |
|
22/23 – winter |
£59m |
|
23/24 – summer |
£208m |
|
23/24 – winter |
£0 |
|
24/25 – summer |
£101.5m |
|
24/25 – winter |
£0 |
|
25/26 – summer |
£153m |
The north Londoners scored just 69 league goals, far beneath their totals of 91 and 88 in 23/24 and 22/23 respectively. This resulted in Arsenal drawing more matches than any other side in the top 10, so new sporting director Andrea Berta is actively working to add more creativity to their attack in response.
After striking a potential £55 million deal, including add-ons, for England winger Noni Madueke, it is widely reported that Arsenal will accelerate their plans to sign Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.
Reports this week suggest Berta is prepared to pay £55m for Eze (TEAMtalk), but Palace are determined to hold for his full release clause.
Their pursuit of the former QPR star will happen immediately after they finally sealed a full agreement for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who comes as an especially crucial signing for Arteta.
Viktor Gyokeres pictured travelling to sign for Arsenal
A breakthrough was reached earlier this week for Gyokeres, with Arsenal set to pay an initial fee of around £55 million for the Swede that could rise to £64 million if bonuses and add-ons are achieved (The Athletic).
The 27-year-old is expected to undergo a medical today before signing his contract, and Romano has now dropped an exclusive photo of Gyokeres travelling to Arsenal with his agent, Hesin Cetinkaya, who was crucial in making the transfer happen.
Romano adds that Gyokeres “only” wanted Arsenal.
The former Coventry City forward is fresh off the back of a stunning 54-goal campaign at Sporting, helping Rui Borges’ men to their first domestic double in around two decades, and Gyokeres is tipped to be a potentially game-changing arrival.
His signing puts an end to both a long-winded transfer saga and Arsenal’s search for a proven, goalscoring number nine – with on-lookers understandably very excited by the prospect of him in red and white.
Gyokeres will also wear the number 14 shirt once donned by club legend Thierry Henry.
