He'd be amazing with Rodrygo: Arsenal close in on signing £60m "monster"
da pinup bet： There may still be two Premier League games left to play, but silly season is almost here, and Arsenal look set for a busy one.
da bwin： Mikel Arteta’s side failed to pick up a trophy for the fifth campaign on the bounce this year, so it’s hardly been a surprise to see them linked to a host of tremendously exciting attackers over the last few weeks.
Perhaps the most exciting of the lot has been Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, who would be an incredible statement signing for new Sporting Director Andrea Berta to make in his first summer at the club.
However, the Brazilian isn’t the only game-changing attacker touted for a move to the Emirates, with recent reports now claiming that the Gunners are close to completing a deal for an international who’d be an ideal teammate for the Champions League winner.
Arsenal close in on new striker signing
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other exciting goalscorers touted for moves to N5 in recent weeks, such as Nico Williams and Leroy Sane.
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The former has a release clause worth around £48m in his current deal, and while it would have to be paid in full, his output of 11 goals and seven assists in 44 games this season suggests he’d be worth it.
Sane, on the other hand, would be free thanks to his current deal expiring at the end of the season, and as he’s racked up 13 goals and six assists in just 44 games this year, signing him feels like a real no-brainer.
However, to really get the most out of Rodrygo next season, Arteta and Co will need to ensure they have a prolific number nine leading the line, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.
Fortunately, it looks like they will do so, as according to reports via an outlet from Spain, negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting CP for the player are ‘well advanced’ at this stage.
In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the deal, which is worth around €71m – £60m – is all but done and that the Swedish international ‘is poised to become a new player’ for the Gunners.
It’s certainly not a cheap transfer, but given Gyokeres’ incredible ability in front of goal, it looks like it’ll be well worth it, especially as he could help get even more out of Rodrygo should the Brazilian join as well.
Why Gyokeres would be a dream for Rodrygo
Now, while there will undoubtedly be a plethora of reasons on and off the pitch as to why Gyokeres would be an ideal teammate for Rodrygo, the most important one, and the one all others will stem from, is his raw output.
For example, it doesn’t really matter how many chances the Brazilian creates from the left if the centre-forward to his right can put them away.
Fortunately, that’s not the case for the Sporting CP star, and it is, in fact, quite the opposite, as it almost feels like the Swedish international couldn’t stop scoring even if he wanted to.
For example, in 50 appearances last season, the goalscoring “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net 43 times and provided 15 assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of 1.16 goal involvements per game.
Somehow, the former Coventry City star has become even more effective this year, and in 50 appearances, totalling just 4038 minutes, he’s managed to score 52 goals and provide 13 assists.
Gyokeres’ unreal record
Season
23/24
24/25
Appearances
50
50
Minutes
4169′
4038′
Goals
43
52
Assists
15
13
Goal Involvements per Match
1.16
1.3
Minutes per Goal Involvement
71.87
62.12′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In other words, the 26-year-old “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, is currently averaging 1.3 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.12 minutes, which is simply outrageous.
Now, just imagine how goof Rodrygo could be with a striker that prolific to his right. Not only would he see his goal and assist tallies explode, but he’d probably have more room to work in as opposition defenders focus their energy on stopping the Swedish goal machine from scoring.
Ultimately, it might be a costly deal to get done, but Gyokeres looks like he’ll be incredible for Arsenal next year, and if Berta and Co can sign the Real Madrid star as well, we struggle to see how anyone will be able to contain the Gunners next year.
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The talented goalscorer would add another string to Arsenal’s bow.