Arsenal are progressing in their attempt to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, with talks over a potential £70 million deal now accelerating.

The 27-year-old Sweden international, who has scored an astonishing 97 goals in 102 appearances since joining the Portuguese side, has become a priority target for manager Mikel Arteta. Negotiations with both Sporting and the player’s representatives are being led by the Gunners’ sporting director Andrea Berta.

Though the deal is not yet complete, there is growing confidence at the Emirates that an agreement can be reached in the coming days.

Having already wrapped up the £60m signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, Arsenal’s attention has now turned squarely to strengthening their attack — widely considered their weakest area during last season’s Premier League campaign.

Despite a strong title push, many critics pointed to Arsenal’s lack of a clinical No.9 as the defining factor in their failure to dethrone Manchester City. In Gyökeres, they are targeting a proven goalscorer, albeit one whose prolific form has come outside of Europe’s top five leagues.

If the deal goes through, Gyökeres will carry the weighty task of helping to convert Arsenal’s near-misses into silverware.

“Arsenal are tired of finishing second,” writes Sami Mokbel, senior football correspondent. “So Gyökeres’ task is clear: propel the Gunners to the title.”

While the Swedish striker’s exploits in Portugal speak for themselves, the challenge now lies in translating that output to the Premier League. But Arteta and the Arsenal hierarchy appear convinced he can be the missing piece in their title puzzle.

Gyökeres’ journey has been far from straightforward. The forward began his career at IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden before securing a move to Brighton in 2017. However, he failed to make an impact on the south coast, making just a handful of appearances and scoring once in a League Cup tie.

Loan spells at St Pauli, Swansea City, and later Coventry City followed. It was with Coventry that he finally began to flourish, scoring 43 goals in 116 matches and playing a pivotal role in the club’s deep FA Cup run and near-promotion via the play-offs in 2023.

His form earned him a £20m move to Sporting that summer, where his game has reached another level. Over two seasons in Lisbon, Gyökeres has won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and the 2024-25 Portuguese Cup, transforming into one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers.

Now 27, Gyökeres looks set for a return to English football, though at a dramatically different level than his previous spells.

Should he arrive, he would compete with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz for a central role, though Arteta is understood to see the Swede as a natural fit for the No.9 position.

With Arsenal determined to bridge the fine margins that have kept them behind Manchester City, Gyökeres’ physicality, finishing ability, and confidence in front of goal may provide the final boost they need.