Arsenal urged to sign ‘amazing’ £85m star to provide Mikel Arteta ‘something different’

Arsenal have been urged to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres to provide Mikel Arteta with ‘something different’ in his hunt for a Premier League title.

The Gunners finished second to Manchester City in the last two seasons and last early ground to the defending champions after a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.

Despite the impressive early-season form of Kai Havertz, the frustrating form of Gabriel Jesus has led many to believe that the club still need another marquee attacking signing they are going to end their 20-year wait for another league title finally.

One such person is former Gunners defender Bacary Sagna who thinks the club should renew their interest in Gyokeres who has continued his remarkable scoring record for Sporting since joining from Championship side Coventry last season.

The Swede, who scored 29 goals in his maiden season, has already notched up 11 in just eight games so far this campaign and Sagna believes the 26-year-old could offer Arteta a different profile to his attacking options.

‘I’d like to see Arsenal go for Viktor Gyokeres – he’s amazing. He’s a pure striker who would offer some depth to Arsenal,’ the Frenchman told Metro.

‘He’s also quite tall so whenever the team are out wide, they can cross the ball a bit more and that’s been missing a bit for me.

‘They need to find a solution in and around the box but sometimes you just need to put it in the box. He’ll help them be dangerous from crosses and set pieces and in open play, he’s clinical and something different.

‘I trust Gabriel Jesus and I like his work ethic, but you need a bit of everything if you want to be able to compete. You almost need two competitive teams in the squad because there are so many games a season.’

Gyokeres has a €100m (£85m) release clause in his contract and, speaking last month, Sporting president Frederico Varandas insisted any interested club would have to hit that fee to sign the talisman.

‘A €100 million clause and whether it can be met depends on the player’s current situation, age, and whether there is more than one club in the running,’ the president said, via Record.

‘I’ve seen inferior players being transferred for over €100m, great players for under €100m. Sporting is happy to have Viktor and he is happy here.’

Gyokeres, meanwhile, previously hinted that he had been priced out of a switch this summer, but he is happy at Sporting anyway.

‘They (Sporting) wanted most of the starting players to stay and held us tight,’ Gyokeres told Sport Bladet. ‘That’s how it turned out, but I enjoy Sporting very much, so for me it was no problem to stay.

‘It (release clause) was probably a bit too much because nothing came of it. Of course it’s a lot of money. But we’ll see what happens next window.

‘Nothing happened and it feels like I had a pretty good season. So yes, that’s probably why there was simply no move. But that’s what Sporting thinks I’m worth, and then you have to respect that.

‘I enjoy myself very much in Sporting and can’t complain about anything, so it’s absolutely no problem for me to stay. Of course, you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.’

Bacary Sagna was speaking to Metro on behalf of Paddy Power.

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