Arsenal transfer news: Gunners 'to return' for forward after Nketiah sale

Upon the end of the 2023-24 campaign, it was widely claimed that Mikel Arteta was ready to prioritise the addition of a fresh face in attack.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah contributed just nine Premier League goals between them, effectively leaving them available for a departure for the right price.

As it stands, both players remain at the Emirates Stadium, but it has been alleged that Nketiah is far closer to an exit than his Brazilian teammate.

Marseille are said to be interested in acquiring the services of the England international, with a switch to the Stade Velodrome potentially materialising over the coming days.

Arsenal to reignite interest in top target

The 25-year-old is said to be close to agreeing personal terms with the Ligue 1 outfit, who now need to agree a fee with their Arsenal counterparts.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu will look to bring in Viktor Gyokeres as his replacement.

With 43 goals and 15 assists coming during his first 50 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, Gyokeres has been tipped to move to the Premier League.

However, with Sporting officials said to be insistent that a release clause of £86m be activated for a sale to go through, negotiations have stalled.

Romano claims that Arsenal are ready to try to tempt the Primeira Liga champions into a sale for a fee between £55m and £60m, more than double what Sporting paid Coventry City 12 months ago.

Would Arsenal be prepared to go higher?

Given that they failed to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and Ivan Toney has seemingly been deemed too expensive, Gyokeres is the only player of Arsenal's alleged top three targets that remain.

With the Sweden international having never played a Premier League game, Arsenal will argue that Sporting are demanding over the odds.

Much will depend on whether Arteta sees the 26-year-old as a regular starter or someone who can rotate with Kai Havertz down the centre of the attack.

In his last experience of English football during 2022-23, Gyokeres chipped in with 21 goals and 12 assists from 49 outings in the Championship for Coventry.