{"id":298736,"date":"2023-12-21T05:39:14","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T05:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298736"},"modified":"2023-12-21T05:39:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T05:39:14","slug":"arsenal-couldve-saved-themselves-65m-on-striker-right-under-their-noses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/arsenal-couldve-saved-themselves-65m-on-striker-right-under-their-noses\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal could’ve saved themselves \u00a365m on striker right under their noses"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Viktor Gyokeres has been named as a new option for Arsenal in the January transfer window – but they have already missed out on signing him for significantly cheaper than the price they would have to pay next month. The Gunners are on the lookout for a new centre-forward to aid their title charge.<\/p>\n

Gyokeres, according to reports from Portugal, has been mentioned as a potential alternative to Brentford’s Ivan Toney. The 25-year-old has plundered 17 goals and added eight assists in 20 matches for Sporting this season, helping them top the Liga Portugal and reach the Europa League knockout stages.<\/p>\n

But Arsenal and Chelsea, who are also interested in both Toney and Gyokeres, have been informed that the Swede will cost \u00a385million in January. That’s the same figure as the release clause in his Sporting contract.<\/p>\n

The Portuguese giants say the No 9 will be leaving for no less than that amount. And that represents a \u00a365m mark-up on the price they paid in July to sign the player from Coventry in the Championship.<\/p>\n

Gyokeres had scored 43 goals in two-and-a-half seasons with the Sky Blues and became their record sale despite only having a year left on his contract. He had earlier played for Brighton before going on loan to Coventry and then joining permanently.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He managed 21 goals and 12 assists last term in England’s second tier and took the club to the play-off final but they lost on penalties to Luton at Wembley. In his absence, having also lost Gustavo Hamer, Coventry have now sunk to mid-table.<\/p>\n

And Arsenal will rue that they could have signed him for just \u00a320m in the summer. Highly regarded Sporting manager Ruben Amorim even alluded to the fact he was right under the Londoners’ noses very recently.<\/p>\n

He said this week: \u201cI think he\u2019s improved the team; the fans like him a lot. We have to look at the other side; today there\u2019s talk that Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in him. He was in England, right next to them, in the Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n