Coach Mikel Arteta finally had Viktor Gyokeres – the striker he wanted at Arsenal. However, there have been many other options and negotiations with actual sporting are extremely stressful and prolonged.
After 12 months and three transfer periods, Arsenal fans finally no longer have to wait for the striker. A year after failing to recruit Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and 6 months after trying to buy Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, Arsenal finally recruited a world -class striker for a huge fee.
The name chosen is Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish scoring machine “devastated” the defense throughout Portugal. Gyokeres officially became Arsenal's people after weeks of negotiations, with the initial price of 63.5 million euros, with 10 million euros.
The search for Arsenal strikers became noticeable for three reasons. First, it takes too much time for them to switch to Gyokeres. Second, the strategy “rotates multiple discs at the same time” full of risk of the new sports director Andrea Berta. Third, talks with Sporting so tense that Gyokeres's father burst into tears because of desperate, according to sources in Portugal. There are even strikes, allegations of blackmail and accusations of violations of the agreement.
Arsenal fans can sympathize with the despair of the Gyokeres family despite being less personal. The lack of a true number of 9 has become the collective obsession of the Gunners fans. This is so serious that the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer – a crop ticket at the Emirates Stadium – also said in June: “We need a striker. It is the most prominent position that Arsenal is lacking”.
Why did Arsenal choose Gyokeres instead of Sesko?
The transfer campaign was led by Andrea Berta – who had 12 years of experience in Atletico, and this was almost his personal project. Berta implemented a multi -directional strategy, working at the same time with many different strikers options. Sesko and Watkins are still in a week of consideration, and many other strikers in Europe are also approached by Arsenal.
The advantage of this strategy is to help Arsenal make a more wise decision, but the risk is to make the players feel they are just a “backup plan”. Both Sesko and Gyokeres believe they are the number one choice, making Arsenal be careful not to hurt the stakeholders.
Finally, Arsenal chose Gyokeres – who is always the preferred choice of Berta. What is the reason?
- The price is lower than Sesko, because Gyokeres is 5 years older.
- Gyokeres's determination attitude: he and the representative are ready to “burn the bridge” with Sporting to get to Arsenal, which Sesko will not do with Leipzig.
In recent interviews, Gyokeres also hinted more about greater aspirations. He appeared on the cover of France Football, claiming to “sitting at the same table with the best strikers in the world”, and also on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia – rarely moves.
The tension began in June when Gyokeres believed that Sporting broke the “underground agreement” about selling him for 68 million euros. However, Sporting's president Frederico Varandas denied that. Sports Director Hugo Viana, who was the bridge between Sporting and players representatives, left Man City, making the situation more confusing.
Gyokeres rumored rumored to refuse to return to practice with Sporting despite the fact that he was allowed to leave more, but the hurt of the 27 -year -old striker was real. The relationship between Gyokeres – Sporting has clearly cracked.
Father Gyokeres “mentally depressed” for the negotiation
The negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting lasted for nearly 3 weeks but still not yet finished, making Gyokeres unable to join Arsenal to play Asian. A turning point occurs when the representative accepts to give up his commission so that the deal can proceed. But then, discussing the extra charges continued to be deadlocked.
Last week, the Mais Futbol said Gyokeres's father was “mentally depressed” and feared the last minute deal. Sporting has a tough history in negotiation. Previously, they made the Pedro Porro deal with Tottenham and Bruno Fernandes with Man United with a deadlock before he was unexpectedly completed. Varandas President – a former military officer – is clearly a formidable negotiation.
There are even rumors that MU tries to “hold hands on” this deal, but Gyokeres always asserts he just wants to go to Arsenal. The Sporting started negotiating to buy striker Luis Suarez of Almeria clarified the intention to break up Gyokeres. And on July 21, when Arteta was asked about Gyokeres, he only answered: “I cannot comment on the player who is not on the club's payroll.”
After countless waves, everything was over on July 26, after Gyokeres passed medical examination and officially launched. Arsenal has finally gained a striker that they have long been expected. Now, all of them are waiting for Gyokeres to show their mark on the pitch.
