Arsenal defender Gabriel has recently shared his thoughts on Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as the player is reportedly close to making a switch to Emirates Stadium. The Brazilian defender sat down with The Athletic for an interview ahead of the new season and discussed the potential transfer.
Gabriel referred to Gyokeres as a "great player" and recalled their Champions League league phase clash in the 2024-25 season where he found playing against him a "big challenge". In that match, which ended in Arsenal's 5-1 win, Gabriel even mimicked Gyokeres' trademark mask celebration after scoring.
Sporting CP and Arsenal are still ironing out details of what is expected to be a £69m ($92.5m) deal. There seems to be an impasse over additional fees but both clubs are working towards resolving it. Despite these complications, Gabriel expressed his excitement at the prospect of having Gyokeres join their team. He stated that he along with his teammates always want the club to recruit top players as they aim for their first Premier League trophy in 21 years after three consecutive seasons finishing second.
What Gabriel said about other transfers
When asked about other summer deals including Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa and Noni Madueke which have already been closed by Arsenal.
Arsenal defender, Gabriel, said:
"At a club like Arsenal, of course what we want is to have the best players.
“We want to fight for trophies, so we need to have the best. When players arrive, the advice I give them is to focus and try to adapt as quickly as possible, because we’re already working really hard. So I believe they’re already quite in sync with us, and I believe this year we can achieve great things.”
“For sure, when we played against him, it was a big challenge for us. What we know now is that he’s a great player, who definitely had a great season last year.”
Pre-season tour And transfer saga continues
As part of their pre-season preparations, Arsenal will be heading off for a tour in Asia soon. Ideally, they would have liked if Gyokeres could join them but due to ongoing negotiations this seems unlikely at present.
This protracted transfer saga has been causing headaches for all parties involved. The player's father is reportedly distraught over the situation and Gyokeres himself has moved out of his luxury Lisbon home despite no significant progress in the transfer talks.
While Gabriel and his Arsenal teammates eagerly await Gyokeres' arrival, fans will have to wait a little longer for confirmation as negotiations continue. This potential transfer could be a game-changer for Arsenal as they aim to secure their first Premier League title in over two decades.
