For several weeks, Viktor Gyökeres had occupied the front of the European transfer window. Top scorer on the continent, hero of the title of Sporting Lisbon, the Swedish fueled all lusts. Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus … Each day brought its new rumor, feeding a skillfully maintained suspense by the Gyökeres clan, determined to raise the auctions. It remained to know where the most courted summer striker of summer would finally land.
According to the latest indiscretions, the former Coventry City scorer finally chose to engage with Arsenal, Snobant Manchester United despite the links with Ruben Amorim, his former coach in Lisbon. At 27, Gyökeres favored the stability and sports ambition of the Gunners, seduced by his 97 goals in 102 games with Sporting. The Emirates Stadium offers the Champions League and the prospect of playing the title, a decisive argument that tipped the scales.
This choice ends a soap opera with twists and turns. In turn announced to Juventus or offered in Madrid, Gyökeres maintained the vagueness on his intentions. Its release clause, set at 100 million euros by Sporting, has slowed down several contenders, as is the firmness of Frederico Varandas, the president Lisbon. The striker even almost went on strike to leave, the standoff between agent and Portuguese leaders punctuated all the beginning of summer.
Gyökeres, the new offensive asset of the Gunners
The choice of Arsenal is part of a logic of progression. The Gunners, in search of a real number 9 for several seasons, offer Gyökeres a competitive environment, a structured team and a clear project. For Arteta, this is the missing link to cross a course. For the Swedish, the opportunity to confirm that it is not just a phenomenon of the Portuguese championship, but an attacker capable of shining in one of the most demanding championships in Europe.
Gyökeres will now have to assume a flagship recruit status and make people forget the scorer syndrome from Portugal who have struggled to win in major European clubs. The challenge is immense, but his statistics argue for him. Arsenal hopes that he will be able to convert this summer suspense into a new era of success in the field.
