BREAKING NEWS: “If Arsenal sign that player, I’ll quit coaching—because I’m genuinely worried he’ll break every record in sight,” said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. The City boss is reportedly unsettled by Arsenal’s potential new signing and has jokingly hinted at resigning should the deal go through.

In recent weeks, speculation surrounding a potential move to Arsenal for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has intensified. This comes amid the appointment of Andrea Berta as the club’s new sporting director.

Ranked sixth on FourFourTwo’s list of the world’s best strikers, Gyokeres has become a prominent target for the Gunners as they look to bolster their attacking options.

Reports suggest that Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya—who shares a close relationship with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta—recently met with Berta to discuss a possible transfer.

According to the BBC, Sporting may be willing to accept an offer in the region of £62 million for their star striker, significantly less than what Newcastle United is demanding for fellow Swede Alexander Isak, making Gyokeres a more economical choice.

Portuguese outlet Correio da Manhã claims that Gyokeres has expressed genuine interest in Arsenal’s project and is enthusiastic about joining the team. Supporting this, Sport Witness indicates the player is eager to finalize the move and has already given an informal “yes,” implying that personal terms are close to being agreed upon.

Gyokeres appears to be a top priority for Arsenal, chosen over other targets such as Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško—both of whom the club considered in the January transfer window. However, there is a key detail to note: Sporting reportedly intends to delay any official announcements until July, aligning the sale with the new financial year.

The Swedish forward has been outstanding for Sporting this season, scoring an impressive 30 goals in 26 league matches, along with six more in European competitions. Despite his strong form and high placement on Berta’s list of targets, FourFourTwo notes that the deal may not be as close as it seems on the surface.

Adding more insight, The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently remarked that meetings between club officials and representatives of transfer targets are standard practice at this stage of the season, particularly as Arsenal explores various options.

While Gyokeres remains a serious candidate, final decisions will rest on joint discussions between Berta and Arteta, both of whom share equal influence in determining the club’s transfer direction this summer.