Arsenal's hopes of signing Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres have been dashed as Sporting Lisbon are closing in on a deal for the Coventry City star. The Gunners had identified the 25-year-old as a key target to bolster their attacking options this summer.
According to reports from Portugal, Gyokeres has already undergone a medical with Sporting and is set to sign a five-year contract. The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £20 million, potentially rising to £25 million with add-ons.
Why Arsenal Missed Out
Mikel Arteta's side were reportedly monitoring Gyokeres closely after his impressive Championship campaign, where he scored 21 goals for Coventry. However, Arsenal's hesitation in meeting Coventry's valuation appears to have cost them the player.
Sporting moved decisively to secure their man, offering the Swedish international regular Champions League football - a factor that likely proved decisive in his decision.
What This Means for Arsenal
The North London club must now turn their attention to alternative striking options as they look to build on last season's second-place finish. With Gabriel Jesus currently the only senior striker in the squad, Arteta will be keen to add depth before the new campaign.
Gyokeres' physicality and work rate had made him an attractive proposition for Arsenal's system, but Sporting's swift action has left the Premier League giants looking elsewhere in what promises to be a busy transfer window at the Emirates.
