Former Arsenal man Jermaine Pennant has informed Soccer FanCast that the Gunners must be prioritising the signing of one other high-profile ahead, if a deal for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres falls flat.
Newest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres
Will he, will not he? There’s been extra twists and turns on this switch saga than a Components 1 race.
At one stage having seemingly been behind RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko on the north Londoners’ striker shortlist, Gyokeres has emerged because the main goal for Andrea Berta and co in latest weeks, amid the necessity to finish the membership’s prolonged await a brand new quantity 9.
After netting 97 targets in simply 102 video games in Lisbon, the 27-year-old Swede seems to be edging ever nearer to transferring to the Emirates, albeit with the state of affairs having dragged on of late.
Certainly, whereas a £63.5m settlement with the Portuguese outfit is nearing completion, following Gyokeres’ public dispute along with his present facet, the ultimate particulars have but to be resolved.
There had even been whispers in Portugal that rival suitors Manchester United have been eager to hijack the deal, amid Ruben Amorim’s want for a reunion, though that reported curiosity from the Crimson Devils has seemingly been overblown.
Regardless, these of an Arsenal persuasion will not relaxation till the previous Coventry Metropolis man is signed, sealed and delivered, with it maybe sensible to nonetheless be contemplating alternate options – as Pennant instructed…
Pennant suggests “big-money” different to Gyokeres
Talking solely to Soccer FanCast on behalf of Journey Avid gamers, the one-time Gunners academy graduate outlined that if his former membership cannot get a deal executed for Gyokeres, then a extra fluid ahead – within the mould of Gabriel Jesus – ought to effectively be thought of, particularly Actual Madrid’s wantaway star, Rodrygo:
“If they do not get Gyokeres then they have to go for a big-name signing. Not solely will it smash their possibilities however the followers are going to show quickly. I would try to go for big-money for Rodrygo at Actual Madrid. He can play down the center, the Jesus function the place he can drop deep and provides them a bit extra of an possibility.”
The 24-year-old wideman has been closely linked with an exit from the Bernabeu this summer time, having performed a restricted function on the latest Membership World Cup underneath new boss Xabi Alonso, with Arsenal believed to be one of many golf equipment thinking about capitalising on the uncertainty surrounding the £85m-rated expertise.
|
Rodrygo’s LaLiga document thus far |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Video games |
Targets & Assists |
|
2024/25 |
30 |
12 |
|
2023/24 |
34 |
15 |
|
2022/23 |
34 |
18 |
|
2021/22 |
33 |
8 |
|
2020/21 |
22 |
7 |
|
2019/20 |
19 |
2 |
Rodrygo would not be the one possibility to contemplate, nevertheless, with Pennant additionally tipping the Emirates hierarchy to resume their strategy for the aforementioned Sesko:
“If not you must flip consideration to Sesko. He is younger however he is formidable and his numbers are nice. So, Sesko or Rodrygo for me.”
The Slovenian is recent off the again of the marketing campaign during which he scored 21 instances in all competitions for Leipzig, whereas Rodrygo scored 14 instances throughout all fronts for Los Blancos.
These returns fall shy of Gyokeres’ mammoth 54-goal haul in 2024/25, though as Pennant instructed, any of that trio can be a worthy addition to Mikel Arteta‘s ranks.
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