Arsenal have dealt a blow in their pursuit of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who reportedly prefers joining AC Milan next summer.
According to GIVEMESPORT, Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres favours a move to Serie A giants AC Milan instead of heading to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.
Gyokeres has earned himself a place in the spotlight since leaving Coventry City for Sporting in the summer. Since his departure from the Championship club, the Sweden international has scored 32 goals in 35 appearances for his new side.
Out of the blue, he is on the radar of some clubs with elite ambitions. Arsenal, for one, are understood to be among the clubs actively scouting the player, as Mikel Arteta and Edu plan to prioritise the signing of a marquee striker when the transfer window reopens.
The Gunners are currently scoring goals for fun in the Premier League at the time of writing, but this has done little to dampen the speculation over signing a new striker.
Arteta will definitely want a new centre-forward, regardless of how the club ends the current campaign. The Spaniard won’t want to rest on their laurels and will be wondering if Gyokeres could be their missing piece as he looks for a more reliable frontman than either Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah.
Stylistically, the 25-year-old forward has been compared to Harry Kane, and if his debut top-flight season in Portugal is anything to go by, he’s certainly living up to those comparisons.
Standing at over 6ft tall, the striker also provides a huge presence in the air and will offer the Gunners a different option than what they currently have up front.
AC Milan emerge as Gyokeres’ favourite landing spot
However, the north Londoners are not the only club in contention to offer him his next step. The above report claims that Arsenal have been handed a setback in their attempts to land Gyokeres, as he is more interested in joining AC Milan than a move to the Premier League.
Sporting CP were previously adamant that the 25-year-old would not leave for less than his €100 million release.
However, there have been reports that there may be some room to negotiate, as Sporting will need some funds to balance their books.
Even then, it’s doubtful whether the Rossoneri will be able to fund such a big-money move, and they are believed to have different priorities over the summer, despite his desire for a move.
