Viktor Gyokeres denied dream Arsenal shirt quantity however second-choice nonetheless accessible
Viktor Gyokeres is lastly set to affix Arsenal after the Gunners made a breakthrough in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon, agreeing to pay a complete £63.7million after haggling over add-ons
Arsenal gained't have the ability to hand Viktor Gyokeres his dream shirt quantity when the Swedish striker completes his £63.7million transfer to the Emirates. Gyokeres, 27, has been decided to affix the Gunners all through the summer season switch window and is on the verge of getting his want.
Private phrases have lengthy been agreed however the finer particulars of the settlement between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon took weeks to finalise. The Portuguese giants champions, who Gyokeres has scored 97 objectives in 102 video games far, have been haggling over the character of the add-ons which made up a part of Arsenal's bid.
The Guardian report that Mikel Arteta's aspect made a late-night breakthrough on Tuesday, with the Gunners boss having been pressured to bat away questions concerning the former Coventry Metropolis star within the first few days of their pre-season tour of Asia. Following Wednesday's 1-0 win towards AC Milan in Singapore, Arteta reiterated: "You understand that I’m not going to play towards any participant that’s not with us but."
The Arsenal supervisor's feedback replicate what he mentioned on Monday after his squad landed in Asia. "I can not touch upon any participant who just isn’t a part of our group but," he instructed reporters. "When we have now one thing concrete to supply in any case to any participant we’ll try this."
However Arteta is about to alter his tune as soon as Gyokeres completes his medical and places pen to paper on a five-year contract. The Sweden worldwide will hope to take his prolific kind from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League – however he gained't have the identical quantity on his again.
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Gyokeres has worn the No.9 shirt since he joined Sporting from Coventry in 2023. That quantity at Arsenal belongs to Gabriel Jesus, who till a long-term harm was linked with a transfer away this summer season.
Throughout his two full seasons at Coventry, Gyokeres wore the No.17 shirt. That's at the moment taken by Oleksandr Zinchenko, who's additionally been tipped to go away north London.
Apparently, although, the No.10 shirt – probably his second-choice – is vacant. Emile Smith Rowe's departure final summer season provides the 27-year-old the possibility to inherit a prestigious shirt quantity worn by Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie and Mesut Ozil.
Which shirt quantity ought to Arsenal give Viktor Gyokeres? Tell us your choose within the feedback part.
One other iconic quantity which is offered is the No.14, most famously worn by Thierry Henry. Different Arsenal greats to put on the shirt embrace Martin Keown, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alan Smith, Ray Parlour and Kevin Campbell.
Gyokeres solely wore No.10 at youth degree, happening to sport 12, 14, 42 and 9 in first-team soccer. Different notable vacant numbers at Arsenal embrace 10, 25, 26, 34 and 35.
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