Arsenal are said to have stopped chasing Viktor Gyokeres, although the striker has refused to move to Manchester United to support the "Gunners". Coach Mikel Arteta is eager to sign a new striker and has told fans to look forward to a "big summer" in the transfer market.
"It's going to be a big event and we're excited about it. The way we plan for the first year of summer, they will be huge and they will have different goals. There will be changes in the players and the goals of those transfers will be different.
We want to increase the depth of the squad but also want to improve the quality and the necessary skills to move forward" - Arteta said earlier this year.
Gyokeres has emerged as Arsenal's top target with 97 goals in 102 matches since joining Sporting in 2023. Man United are also interested in the 27-year-old, but Gyokeres has refused to move to Old Trafford. The reason is because the "Red Devils" do not have a ticket to the Champions League.
However, the Portuguese Record reported that Arsenal had "frozen" their pursuit of Gyokeres due to the price Sporting demanded. Sporting rejected the initial offer of €55 million and €10 million in add-ons.
Arsenal have since offered a contract worth around €70 million, but Sporting want the player's release clause worth nearly €100 million to be met.
"Sporting have not received any offers for Gyokeres. The player's use of " blackmail" tactics and disrespect for the club is unacceptable.
Sporting will not accept the price of 60 million Euros plus 10 million Euros in additional fees that Gyokeres and the representative requested" - said Sporting's Chairman Frederico Varandas.
Therefore, Arsenal have shifted their attention to other options, including Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins. The Gunners tried to sign Watkins in the January transfer window when Villa also wanted to balance their financial books.
However, Villa eventually sold Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and Watkins stayed. The Englishman admitted in 2020 that playing for the "Gunners" was his dream.
"As an Arsenal fan, Thierry Henry was incredible to see him play. He was my idol when I was little.
My dream is to play for Arsenal one day, but it is a distant goal. My family supports them and the like, but that is a long-term goal," Watkins said in 2020.
