LONDON: Arsenal have enormous, title-winning expectations of Viktor Gyokeres. His move from Sporting Lisbon could end up costing £64m with add-ons but if that means the Gunners  end triumphantly a sequence of three seasons as Premier League runners-up then they will consider the money well spent.

Gyokeres has joined up with his new team-mates on pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong. Manager Mikel Arteta said: “Viktor has so many qualities. He is a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat. We’re excited about what he brings to our squad.”

This is Gyokeres’s third attempt to prove himself in English football. Initially he joined Brighton from Swedish side Brommapojkarna in January 2018 then went on loan to St Pauli, Swansea and Coventry before a £20.5m move in 2023 to Sporting Lisbon for whom he scored 97 goals in 102 matches.

Arsenal have spent too much of the last three seasons without a recognised striker. Injuries meant pressing Kai Havertz into service out of position. New sporting director Andrea Berta, who preferred pursuing Gyokeres instead of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, said: “We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room.”

His signing is designed to complement Havertz whose ‘release’ will offer Arteta more attacking options out of midfield.

Arsenal were always the player’s preferred choice despite interest from Manchester United. Gyokeres was impressed by Arsenal in Sporting’s 5;1 defeat in last season’s Champions League group stage.

He said: “I felt it was the right club for me by what I heard from Mikel and Andrea and what I’ve seen of the way they play football. When I played against Arsenal last season, I could really feel it was a very strong team and very difficult to play against – plus, of course, all the history and the massive fan base.”

The Gyokkeres transfer has taken Arsenal’s summer spending beyond £200m, following the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera.

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