Arsenal chiefs fly out to complete £58m striker deal ahead of Man Utd and Chelsea…

Arsenal executives have traveled to Lisbon to finalize a £58m deal for striker Viktor Gyokeres ahead of competition from Manchester United and Chelsea.

According to reports, Arsenal’s directors are in Lisbon to secure the signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish forward has garnered interest from several clubs, particularly in the Premier League, after playing a key role in Sporting’s victory in the Portuguese league and a thrilling Taca de Portugal final on Sunday.

Gyokeres netted his 54th goal across all competitions, equalizing in the tenth minute of stoppage time at the end of the second half, before Conrad Harder and Francisco Trincao added goals in extra time, leading Sporting to a 3-1 triumph over Benfica.

The former Coventry City player’s remarkable scoring ability has caught the attention of many this season, with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal being the most keen on acquiring his talents.

Gyokeres’ connection with Ruben Amorim, who coached him at Sporting before moving to Old Trafford, has fueled numerous speculations linking him to the Red Devils.

However, Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported on Monday that Manchester United’s interest is ‘now almost off the table’ due to their focus on signing Matheus Cunha.

He posted on X: ‘Understand that a move for Viktor Gyokeres to Manchester United is now almost off the table!

‘It is currently not the player’s objective either. Instead, Man Utd are now signing Matheus Cunha.’

Additionally, Portuguese outlet Correio da Manha has reported that Arsenal officials are ‘in Lisbon’ and have confirmed that Gyokeres’ agent ‘already has the official proposal to present’ from the Gunners.

The report further states that the Arsenal executives have ‘come to Lisbon to prepare the details of Viktor Gyokeres’ transfer’ to the north London side.

After the Portuguese cup final, Gyokeres commented on his future, saying: “Let us see.

“It’s hard for me to say, 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.”

When specifically asked about Arsenal’s interest, the Swede responded: “I don’t know, I just focus on this.

“I’ve been concentrating on the recent matches because they are crucial, and I prefer not to think about anything else. So yes, if there’s any truth to it, we’ll see in the summer.

Arsenal is also in search of an attacking midfielder this summer, with former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown asserting that Morgan Gibbs-White is “the ideal solution” to the Gunners’ creativity challenges.

Brown stated to Football Insider: “Mikel Arteta aims to inject more dynamism into his midfield. Currently, they are quite one-dimensional and passive in their approach.

“They advance up the pitch in organized blocks, but when they reach the penalty area, there’s no space for anyone to make runs, which poses a problem.

“Consider the top teams like City and Liverpool; they all possess the capability to surge forward rapidly and make those runs from the midfield.

“That’s a quality Arsenal lacks and is looking to incorporate into their squad. Morgan Gibbs-White is the perfect solution to that issue because that’s his forte.

“He brings energy, makes those runs, and seeks to propel the team forward. Declan Rice excels at that for Arsenal, but they also expect him to handle all other midfield responsibilities, which restricts his effectiveness.

“Having Gibbs-White alongside him would maximize their potential.

“I believe it’s a deal that makes sense for him too, as he will want to participate in the Champions League next season, and they can provide that opportunity.