Morning.
Beginning a model new week with excellent news is good, so let’s try this. Late yesterday, information began to emerge that Arsenal and Sporting had come to an association for the switch of Viktor Gyokeres. We’ll pay a payment of €63.5m + €10m in add-ons, and reportedly the participant’s agent waived their fee in order that the Portuguese membership would get a bigger chunk of the payment up entrance.
There are nonetheless particulars to be labored out, however fingers crossed there aren’t any additional problems. Mikel Arteta desires his man for the pre-season tour in Singapore and Hong Kong, giving him the utmost time to settle in, get used to his new teammates, and be able to go for the beginning of the season.
Whereas it has appeared clear for a short while Massive Vik was going to be the selection over Massive Ben, the anxiousness that has permeated by this window over our striker search remained. Hopefully that can ease a bit now. The large choice is made, we’ve pulled the set off on the striker we so badly want, and now it’s about getting all of it completed and dusted to see what this man will deliver to the staff.
First, it’s simply extra depth able we badly want it, and whereas I don’t assume considerations in regards to the transition from Portugal to England are unfounded, he appears to be like like a participant who gained’t discover the Premier League as difficult as some others. The presence and physicality is there, and I feel that’s the place many have struggled. Even somebody like Alexandre Lacazette, who scored buckets of targets in France, by no means actually obtained to grips with the depth of the Premier League, and I don’t have that fear about Gyokeres in any respect.
There’s a technical degree too, after all, and possibly he’s not as refined in some facets of his sport, however we would have liked somebody to attain targets, and this lad is aware of how to try this. I’ve linked to this earlier than, however Lewis did a giant piece on our new arrival that’s properly price your time if you wish to discover out a bit extra about him and what he’ll deliver – https://likeanewsletter.substack.com/p/gyok-n-roll-star.
So, assuming there aren’t any surprising problems, and with the reported arrival of Noni Madueke to be accomplished this week too, our summer time enterprise appears to be like like this to this point (fastened charges, add-ons not included):
- Martin Zubimendi – £51m
- Kepa Arrizabalaga – £5m
- Christian Norgaard – £10m
- Noni Madueke – £48.5m
- Viktor Gyokeres – £55m
That’s a complete spend by the tip of this week of £169.5m, and there’s nonetheless a little bit bit of labor nonetheless to do on the incoming entrance. It’s gone very quiet with regards the Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, however to my thoughts that’s nonetheless an vital piece of the squad constructing for this summer time. We can’t, and shouldn’t, ask that a lot of William Saliba once more, so having correct cowl in place for him, whereas sustaining the depth we now have at right-back within the form of Ben White and Jurrien Timber, feels very essential to me. So, whether or not it’s Mosquera or another defender, I’d wish to see that completed – though I don’t assume it’s wherever close to as urgent as touchdown that striker.
After that, I feel any additional arrivals may properly be dependent available on the market itself. There are extra rumours involving Leandro Trossard and a possible departure for him, and if that’s the case, then you must go get somebody for the left hand facet. I’ve seen repeated tales about how we’re nonetheless curious about Eberechi Eze, however as but there’s been nothing between the golf equipment. It does really feel a bit like an outgoing or two can be helpful to – if not stability the books, per se, however to chop that internet spend down a bit in order that if there are market alternatives we’re properly positioned to have the ability to take benefit.
I don’t anticipate any excessive profile or shock departures, however gamers like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, and Reiss Nelson ought to all be wanting elsewhere if they need common soccer subsequent season. None of them will usher in enormous charges on their very own, however collectively they might generate a number of quid, so I’m curious to see how Andrea Berta operates on the opposite facet of the switch fence. He’s completed fairly properly as the person entrance and centre of the incomings, so let’s see what can do when he’s the one doing the promoting.
Proper, I’ll go away it there for this morning, however we are going to an Arsecast Further for you in a short while. We’ve already put out the decision for questions on BlueSky @gunnerblog.bsky.social and @arseblog.com with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or if you happen to’re an Arseblog Member on Patreon, go away your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
Pod needs to be out round midday. Till then, have an excellent one.
