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<p>Leading Goal Scorer in Europe's Top Leagues</p>
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alt="Viktor Gyökeres nearing a deal with Arsenal - Can the Swedish striker maintain his impressive scoring streak in the Premier League?"
src="https://tmssl.akamaized.net//images/foto/galerie/viktor-gyokeres-sporting-2024-imago1053435893-1730882407-153506.jpg"
title="Viktor Gyökeres nearing a deal with Arsenal - Can the Swedish striker maintain his impressive scoring streak in the Premier League?"
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p>Arsenal appears set to secure a new striker after much anticipation. Fans have long called for the north London club to invest in a new number 9, and reports indicate that a deal is nearing completion for Sporting's prolific forward, Viktor Gyökeres. According to <em>The Athletic</em>, both Arsenal and Sporting have nearly agreed on a transfer, with personal terms finalized for a five-year contract. The transfer fee stands at an initial €63.5 million, with an additional €10 million through add-ons. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, is keen to finalize the deal quickly as the team prepares for pre-season training in July.</p>
<p>Initially, Arsenal was also pursuing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but the club’s unwillingness to reduce their asking price led the Gunners to shift their focus. Sporting's new Sporting Director, Andrea Berta, has been an admirer of Gyökeres for quite some time. The Swedish international joined Sporting from Championship side Coventry in 2023 for €24 million and has been extraordinarily effective over his two seasons in Portugal. With a market value of €75 million, Gyökeres has outscored every player in Europe’s top leagues since his arrival at Sporting. The question now is whether this accomplished 27-year-old can replicate his impressive Liga Portugal performance in the Premier League, often deemed the most competitive league globally. With expert analysis from Portugal, we aim to explore this topic further.</p>
<h2>Can Viktor Gyökeres Maintain His Goal-Scoring Success in the Premier League?</h2>
<p>The graphic above highlights that Gyökeres has scored 68 goals in 66 league matches over the past two seasons, the highest tally among players in Europe’s top leagues. Harry Kane from Bayern Munich is not far behind with 62 goals. However, such statistics shouldn't guarantee success at Arsenal. The level of competition in Liga Portugal isn't comparable to that of the Premier League, and Gyökeres has not yet played in any of the top five leagues (Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1).
<p>It's worth noting that 17 of those 68 goals came from penalties. Nonetheless, Arteta has shown a knack for maximizing player performance; he successfully utilized midfielder Mikel Merino in an attacking role despite never playing there before, and has transitioned Kai Havertz into a striker role at Arsenal. If Arteta can achieve similar results with a natural goal-scorer like Gyökeres, there's potential for significant impact.</p>
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<p>Player Comparison</p>
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<p>€75.00m</p>
<p>Market Value</p>
<p>€70.00m</p>
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<p>Centre-Forward</p>
<p>Position</p>
<p>Centre-Forward</p>
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<p>Jun 30, 2028</p>
<p>Contract until</p>
<p>Jun 30, 2029</p>
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<p><span>Full Player Comparison</span></p>
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<p>Gonçalo Tristão Santos, Area Manager for <em>Transfermarkt</em> in Portugal, elaborates on Gyökeres' strengths: "Gyökeres is a physically imposing striker with remarkable movement, especially during transitions. His key assets include explosive speed, strong ball-carrying ability, and instinctual finishing in the box. He possesses surprising quickness for his size, often outpacing defenders on counter-attacks, and is skilled at holding up the ball and engaging with teammates." Given that Arsenal typically dominates possession, his counter-attacking strengths might be less vital, though his hold-up play will still be crucial.</p>
<p>Santos mentions potential weaknesses too: "While Gyökeres has a decent passing ability, his first touch can falter under pressure." Nevertheless, he has proven to be one of the most complete and dominant strikers in Liga Portugal in recent years and could be compared to legends like Mário Jardel or Radamel Falcao. He also shares qualities with another Premier League forward, Alexander Isak; both can maneuver and exploit space effectively but Gyökeres is notably more aggressive and raw in his playstyle.</p>
<p>Although Gyökeres has many qualities that could make a significant impact in the Premier League, a key question remains—will he adapt smoothly to the elevated level of competition? Santos believes he possesses all the necessary attributes for success: "He has demonstrated the ability to manage physically demanding leagues during his Championship tenure and has further developed at Sporting, both tactically and technically. The primary challenge will be how quickly he adjusts to the rapid pace and complex defenses of the Premier League. However, with the proper support, he could excel, especially in a strong setup like Arsenal."</p>
<p>With a reported fee around €70 million, it's a considerable investment. Yet, considering the current market dynamics, Gyökeres' contributions, and his track record at Sporting, the expenditure may be justified. He could potentially fill Arsenal's long-term number 9 role, delivering both goals and unwavering work ethic. If integrated properly, he could represent excellent value for the club. At 27, expectations will be high for the Swede to quickly prove his worth in north London. The Gunners are eager for results and will rely on goal-scoring machine Gyökeres to bring his impressive form from Portugal to the Premier League, helping Arsenal chase major trophies once more.</p>
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