Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres is about to finish his transfer from Sporting to Arsenal this weekend and be handed Thierry Henry’s iconic No.14 shirt.
The deal is about to be value £63.5 million, and the ahead will fly out to satisfy his new team-mates in Asia for the Gunners’ pre-season tour.
The 27-year-old is anticipated to signal a five-year contract with the Premier League membership within the coming days.
Mikle Arteta has made it a precedence to herald a top-level centre-forward, particularly after his aspect fell quick in entrance of purpose final season, scoring 17 fewer than champions Liverpool and ending 10 factors behind them.
And now plenty of belief has been put within the former Coventry and Brighton striker, who will sport Henry’s well-known quantity on his again.
He additionally joins Theo Walcott and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in taking the quantity, two profitable Arsenal gamers.
Arsenal are at the moment in Singapore on the primary leg of their pre-season tour of Asia. When requested on Friday, Mikel Arteta mentioned: “I can’t discuss a participant who isn’t ours but,” however did point out that any signing can be introduced into the squad as quickly as doable.
“For positive. Clearly as soon as we’ve finalised all the things with a participant we wish to combine him with the workforce as shortly as doable.
“With Noni it was not possible as a result of he wanted a while [after playing in the Club World Cup]. I believe he’s going to take a shorter trip than he deserves as a result of he desires to hitch us right away, as quickly as we’re again.
“I believe instantly is healthier to allow them to begin to be a part of the workforce, get to know one another and get the concepts we wish to put of their minds.”
Gyokeres has attracted consideration all through the summer season window after a prolific season for Sporting, scoring 54 objectives in 52 matches.
Gyokeres has confirmed himself at each step of his profession. He netted 97 objectives in 102 video games throughout two seasons in Portugal and helped Sporting win consecutive Primeira Liga titles.
Previous to that, he was one of many standout forwards within the Championship with Coventry, the place he scored 43 objectives in 116 appearances and was named within the division’s workforce of the yr for 2022–23.