8 hours ago
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Arsenal played the waiting game when it came to signing Viktor Gyokeres.
It feels like the transfer saga has been going on for years, and you could legitimately argue that case, with the Gunners interested in signing the Swedish forward last summer.
Now we are closing in on the deal being completed and Gyokeres becoming Arsenal's new big-name striker signing. Arsenal have agreed a deal in the region of £63.7million including add-ons, with Gyokeres reportedly completing his medical with the club this weekend.
Gyokeres is a prolific goalscorer, netting 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP in the last two seasons. However, he does not have any Premier League experience, having moved from Brighton & Hove Albion to Coventry City in the Championship before then transferring to Sporting.
Gyokeres may be the chosen one for Arsenal, but there was one name that was truly the dream signing for the Gunners this summer and it is Gyokeres' international teammate - Alexander Isak.
There have been plenty of links with Arsenal in the last 12 months, although Isak was always thought to be out of reach for the Gunners.
There was feeling from Newcastle that their star striker was not for sale and even if he was he would command a massive transfer fee that Arsenal - given their other transfer priorities - might not be able to meet.
However, news emerging this week is that, even though the Magpies do not want to sell, Isak wants to leave. An injury has seen him miss out on the travelling party for Newcastle's trip to Singapore - where they will face Arsenal on Sunday in a pre-season friendly - but the striker has also made it clear he would like to explore transfer opportunities elsewhere.
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Liverpool have also been credited with an interest and remain interested, despite signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79million.
Arsenal have yet to complete the deal to sign Gyokeres, although it is highly advanced with an agreement reached over a £63.7million deal and a medical set for this weekend.
Arsenal were patient when it came to securing a deal for Gyokeres, but they may well feel they could have waited even longer to secure Isak's services, given his wealth of Premier League experience.
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