Arsenal make method to signal £130m celebrity

A 12 months after signing for Arsenal, it could be secure to say that the jury continues to be out on Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The centre ahead is the definition of a marmite character. On the one hand, he completed because the Gunners’ prime scorer in 2025/26 with 21 targets. He was the main ahead this time period throughout their first Premier League title win in 22 years.

But, alternatively, his common play leaves so much to be desired. In comparison with strikers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues, the previous Coventry Metropolis man ranks as lowly as the underside 10% for profitable dribbles and the underside 73% for aerial duels received.

He merely can not take gamers on and he additionally struggles to carry the ball up. There’s not an enormous quantity to love past the goalscoring.

Because of this, it nonetheless appears like Mikel Arteta’s ahead line is incomplete. It explains a number of the hyperlinks we have seen within the switch window already.

Arsenal pushing to signal big-money striker

A 12 months in the past, Arsenal spent big-money to convey Gyokeres to the membership but it surely hasn’t totally gone to plan. Because of this, a few strikers have already been touted with making the transfer to the Emirates Stadium this summer time.

Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi is one participant on their radar however the Cherries are in no temper to promote, reportedly valuing the younger Frenchman at £80m-£100m.

Nonetheless, he’d be an excellent signing. In any case, this is likely one of the prime younger strikers in Europe. No teenager has ever scored extra targets (13) of their debut Premier League season in historical past.

That mentioned, a extra confirmed centre-forward is on their shortlist and he goes by the title of Julian Alvarez.

Earlier this week, studies emerged suggesting that the Atletico Madrid striker is very eager on shifting to north London if his dream transfer to Barcelona doesn’t undergo.

Actual Madrid have already seen a £130m bid rejected for his companies this summer time with Atletico not prepared to promote to a fellow LaLiga membership.

It is prompted Arsenal to advance their curiosity however till that state of affairs with Barca is cleared up, a transfer feels unlikely.

That is based on Fabrizio Romano who took to his YouTube channel to disclose the next: “Two golf equipment have additionally tried to enter the Julian Alvarez story attempting to know if the deadlock between Barca and Atletico might open the doorways for brand spanking new prospects.”

Romano continued: “One membership is PSG. PSG have tried. Additionally Arsenal have made an method to Alvarez and his camp however the reply from the participant has been ‘thanks, however I wish to go to Barcelona’. That is what Julian advised Arsenal and PSG.”

Why Alvarez can be Arsenal’s finest striker since Auba

Over the previous few years, Arsenal have actually struggled to discover a constant striker. Gyokeres might nicely have attracted loads of criticism however he did end the season as their highest scorer in a single season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019/20.

It is only a pity, actually, that Aubameyang left within the circumstances he did, stripped of the captaincy and advised to pack his luggage after an unsanctioned journey to Spain.

Throughout his time on the Emirates, he was among the best centre-forward the membership have had within the fashionable period. His finest marketing campaign in entrance of purpose noticed him bag 31 occasions. No participant on the Emirates has come near replicating these kinds of figures.

He had uncooked tempo and a devastating ending means to match the likes of Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez. Gyokeres is prolific in entrance of purpose himself however not like the others, doesn’t have the all-round recreation to dominate within the Premier League.

Within the type of Alvarez, they may nicely signal their subsequent Aubameyang, their subsequent ruthless centre-forward able to registering a 30 purpose season.

The Argentine has lengthy been seen as among the best strikers in European soccer and since shifting to Atleti, he has solely backed up these claims.

Throughout his debut 12 months in Madrid, the previous Manchester Metropolis man scored as many as 29 occasions. Final season was a bit slower, netting on 20 events, however he nonetheless provided lots within the build-up.

In comparison with Gyokeres, that is likely one of the plus factors of Alvarez’s recreation. He ranks among the many prime 20% of positionally comparable gamers on the continent for profitable dribbles, and among the many prime 6% for progressive actions. Like Aubameyang, he is an extremely direct participant, even when he would not quiet boast the identical tempo and acceleration.

Alvarez is definitely worse than Gyokeres in terms of aerial duels, rating among the many worst 3% however he does knit issues collectively much better, sitting within the prime 9% of strikers for anticipated menace within the build-up phases of play.

Together with his means to play off the left, Auba was additionally significantly sturdy when it got here to linking together with his teammates so there’s a actual pleasure right here that Arsenal might purchase their finest centre-forward for the reason that Gabon worldwide departed again in 2022.