A Swede deal: Arsenal signs Gyokeres

Arsenal on Saturday announced the signing of Swedish international striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, bolstering its attacking options as it attempts to challenge for the Premier League title.

The 27-year-old, who fired Sporting to the Portuguese title last season with 39 goals and netted a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City, is reported to have signed a five-year deal in a transfer worth an initial 57.4 million pounds ($77.2 million).

Gyokeres' transfer, which could end up costing the north London club as much as 66.4 million pounds with performance-related add-ons, takes Arsenal's close-season spending to the region of 200 million.

"To come here to a club on Arsenal's level, I think it's going to help me perform even better with all the amazing players in this team," said Gyokeres.

"I'm really excited to get going,"

He becomes Mikel Arteta's sixth summer signing and follows defender Cristhian Mosquera (13m), midfielder Martin Zubimendi (60m), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (5m), midfielder Christian Norgaard (10m) and forward Noni Madueke (48.5m) in moving to the Emirates Stadium.

"I just felt that it was the right club for me," said Gyokeres.

"When I was playing against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against."

Gyokeres is expected to meet up with his new teammates on Arsenal's ongoing preseason tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Gunners played Newcastle in the Singapore National Stadium on Sunday ahead of the concluding game of their tour, against Tottenham in Hong Kong on July 31.

"I always want to score," added Gyokeres.

"To be a part of this club, and to score in this kit and with this badge in front of all the supporters, I can't wait. It will be an amazing feeling."

Return to England

Gyokeres moved to Brighton from Swedish side Brommapojkarna in January 2018, but spent time on loan at German club St Pauli, and stints at Swansea and Coventry, before making a permanent move to the latter in July 2021.

After Coventry was beaten on penalties by Luton in the 2023 Championship final at Wembley, Gyokeres completed a 20.5 million-pound switch to Sporting. He scored a remarkable 97 goals in 102 matches for the Portuguese side.

"I started here (in England), it feels like a long time ago. I think I've improved a lot since then. Now I want to prove myself for real and perform together with the team," said Gyokeres.

Arsenal spent the concluding months of last season without a recognized striker following long-term injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Even before then, Arsenal was in desperate need of a reliable scorer, and Arteta will hope his new signing can fire him to his first silverware since he won the FA Cup in 2020, and end the club's two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

"Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at both club and international level," said Arteta.

"We're excited about what Viktor brings to our squad, and we're looking forward to starting work with him."

Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted little time in strengthening a squad that has finished runner-up in the league for the past three seasons.

Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly have also put pen to paper on new contracts in the off-season, with a long-term extension for teenager Ethan Nwaneri believed to be all but completed.

Howe: Isak will stay

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe insisted on Saturday that Alexander Isak is still a Newcastle player, despite speculation around a move to either Premier League champion Liverpool or Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.

Isak has not traveled with Newcastle for its preseason tour of Asia, apparently because of a minor thigh injury, but Howe said the 25-year-old Swedish striker was a key part of his plans.

"Of course, there are always going to be things going on behind the scenes," Howe told reporters in Singapore.

"He is aware he's in the news every day, which I'm sure is not easy for anyone in that situation.

"Conversations between Alex and the club, or with me, will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a good relationship," Howe added.

Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, has been "magnificent for us for as long as he has been with us", said Howe. "And he is very comfortable in the dressing room."

The Magpies ended their 70-year trophy drought by winning the English League Cup and finished in fifth place in the Premier League last season, securing a return to the Champions League.

"I think once you've experienced that feeling of winning, you want it again. So, we want to do it again as soon as possible, in all the competitions we are in," said Howe.

"We set the bar very high, and there's a lot of ambition within the team."

AFP