Arsenal Sporting Director Flies For Final Gyokeres Talks

Arsenal are working hard to close a blockbuster transfer for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and it has now emerged that Andrea Berta recently travelled to Portugal for talks

Andrea Berta has travelled to Portugal to hold further talks with Sporting Lisbon as Arsenal and the Portuguese champions attempt to thrash out a blockbuster deal for Viktor Gyokeres.

After weeks of speculation involving both Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, it emerged over the weekend that Arsenal were prioritising a move for the Sweden star, who was always expected to leave Sporting this summer after another stellar season in the Primeira Liga.

Talks to bring Gyokeres to Arsenal are now continuing as the club’s search for a new No.9 draws close to a conclusion.

And it has now been confirmed that Berta, Arsenal’s new sporting director, has flown to Portugal for face-to-face talks with Sporting’s top brass over a deal which could be worth around £70million.

Berta travelled to Portugal late last week, is believed to have returned to the UK and is now back in Portugal trying to get a deal done.

His trip overseas does indicates Arsenal’s desire to finally close a deal for a striker who has no shortage of suitors across Europe after scoring 54 goals for Sporting last season.

Mirror Football outlined on Sunday that Arsenal already have an agreement in place with Gyokeres over a five-year contract worth £200,000-a-week.

It’s said that Mikel Arteta is keen to have a new striker in the building before his squad step things up for pre-season as they bid to go one better in the Premier League title race next term after finishing second for a third successive year.

As well as working on a deal for Gyokeres, Arsenal are trying to bring in a number of other new faces to refresh the playing squad before August’s big kick-off.

Deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi, the Real Sociedad playmaker, have already been confirmed. Confirmation of Christian Norgaard’s £15m switch from Brentford is also expected shortly – but Arsenal are not expected to be done there.

They are also chasing an elite left-winger and are huge admirers of Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. They have also been in talks with Noni Madueke, the versatile Chelsea attacker, over a move and have even agreed personal terms with the England star.

Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace is also emerging as a serious target, while Valencia’s talented young centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, is another player the Gunners are keen on signing.

Mirror.co.uk