Arsenal have been linked with Sporting CP duo Ousmane Diomande and Viktor Gyokeres in recent months and they are keeping tabs on the two players ahead of a potential move in the summer.
A report from the Portuguese publication Record via SportWitness claims that Arsenal scouts watched the two players in action against Benfica last night.
Gyokeres has been outstanding for Sporting CP this season, scoring 36 goals across all competitions. He could prove to be a major upgrade on Gabriel Jesus who has not been able to score goals consistently.
The Swedish international striker could transform Arsenal in the attack and help them win major trophies. Similarly, they need more depth at the back as well. Diomande would be a long-term investment for them and he could develop into a key player for the Gunners. He could form a solid partnership with William Saliba at the heart of the defence.
Arsenal could be priced out of Gyokeres and Diomande transfers
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal follow up on their interest with a concrete proposal to sign the two players at the end of the season. They are unlikely to be cheap acquisitions. Both players have substantial release clauses in their respective contracts. Diomande has a €80 million release clause in his contract and Gyokeres has a €100 million release clause.
It is highly unlikely that Arsenal will be able to afford them unless Sporting CP are reasonable with their demands. The Portuguese club will not want to let their key players leave for cheap and therefore a summer move for the two seems unlikely. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal decide to look at other potential targets in the coming months.
Both unproven against quality opposition and way overpriced. Arsenal should they gamble on the two unproven players, they would look to pay nearer half the amount mentioned with maybe some later add-on costs should they reach a certain level.
Arsenal will be selling before buying this summer to add funds to the transfer kitty. BUT!
Don’t be surprised if value players like Ramsdale stays with Arsenal. Unless a £50 million plus offer is made, then I think Arteta will ask Ramsdale to stay another year at least. After all his value will increase when he becomes England number one as he has years remaining in the game on his older rivals. Plus who ever buys him will have their investment doubled when he becomes England’s number one, and they would get back double what they paid for him because of his potential sell on value in three or four years. So £50 million is still a cheap price, which is why Arteta will ask him to stay, unless a large offer is made to tempt him to sell.