Arsenal are unlikely to spend big on the signing of a centre-forward this summer, despite links to Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners are among a group of clubs to have tracked the Swedish striker’s exploits last season, where Gyokeres scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions for the Portuguese champions.
However, an £84.8m release clause in the player’s contract is set to end Arsenal’s interest in a potential deal with the Gunners unable to afford Gyokeres without negotiation on that fee.
Arsenal remain interested in signing an additional attacking player this summer and hope to raise funds through the sales of Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson.
The former is subject of an approach from Marseille, while Nelson has several Premier League suitors after expressing a desire to leave the Emirates in search of regular first-team football.
Arsenal have spent close to £70m on the signings of David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori so far this summer, while the Gunners are in negotiations with Real Sociedad to sign Mikel Merino for an initial fee of around £27m.
Fabrizio Romano has said that the club’s heavy spending in recent windows means a marquee recruit at number nine is ‘off the table’ as things stand.
