'From What I Hear...' - Transfer Guru: Update tonight on Arsenal & Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal are unlikely to spend big money on signing Viktor Gyokeres in the summer and will assess alternative targets instead.

This is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the Gunners will look to sign a forward more suited to their style.

Brown explained that a large reason for the success of the 26-year-old at Sporting CP has been down to the way the side sets up to play on the break.

Gyokeres’ ability to spin defenders and run in behind, using his pace and strength to dominate them and clinical finishing to beat the goalkeeper, has seen him become one of the hottest properties in Europe.

However, Arsenal’s more considered style is based on link-up play, with the striker as involved in the buildup as they are in the eventual effort on goal – as seen with Kai Havertz.

On top of that, the Gunners often face deeper defensive blocks which would limit Gyokeres’ ability to run in behind – something Brown insists their scouts will be considering.

As a result, despite the Sweden international’s outrageous goalscoring form, there is a belief that they will need to sign a striker more suited to Mikel Arteta’s style.

Arsenal make Viktor Gyokeres transfer decision in new twist

Since his move to Sporting from Coventry, Gyokeres has scored 67 goals and provided 19 assists in 69 games, as well as 24 goals and four assists in 19 games this season.

Brown, who has a wealth of experience in player recruitment at the highest level after spending over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that the striker’s numbers are impressive, but he is not what Arsenal need.

“All of these top-level strikers are on their radar,” he told Football Insider.

“They would be lacking in their due diligence if they weren’t looking at him and assessing his level.

“Scouts will have been keeping a close eye on him to see if he fits the profile that they want.

“From what I’ve seen of Gyokeres, he’s somebody who obviously scores plenty of goals, but he thrives when playing in a certain way.

“That is the way Sporting play – they’re very good on the break, and the three up front are able to pin the defenders and spin in behind to beat them.

“Now, is that the way Arsenal play? No. They prefer a more measured approach, and more often than not that’s because of how their opponents set up.

“And that’s fine of course, but then where would that leave Gyokeres? He’s not usually that type of player, he’s not like Havertz for example.

“Gyokeres has the ability to play in different ways. He’s good with the ball at his feet and can link up well.

“But from what I hear, they’d rather sign a specialist in that role, someone who comes short and gets involved in the buildup, but who also scores goals, rather than spend big money on a player who might not fit in with the way they play.”

In other news, Arsenal’s response to Real Madrid interest in William Saliba revealed.

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