The Premier League’s all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer believes Arsenal will be a “huge threat” next season if they manage to secure the signature of Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish international’s goalscoring record for Sporting Lisbon over the last two seasons has been phenomenal, and when asked by Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast whether Gyokeres is the right man for the Gunners, Shearer replied:

“Yeah, that’s what they need. And we’ve said it, they needed it last summer. I mean, you look at his numbers the last couple of years, they’re outstanding. They’re off the charts good.”

Lineker then mentioned the fact that Gyokeres had scored 68 times in the league since the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign, and Shearer said the striker could help Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the title if he can replicate those figures in the Premier League:

“Yeah, incredible. I mean, they are so impressive numbers. So that’s exactly what Arsenal have needed. And there’s no doubt I think in that team, he’ll score goals. And that’s what their fans demand and needed. So yeah, they’ll be a huge threat as well.”

Gyokeres’s goal contributions in all competitions for Sporting

The 27-year-old has scored 97 goals and contributed 28 assists in 102 appearances during his two years in Portugal.

That means Gyokeres is averaging a goal involvement every 0.816 games. To put that into context, Lionel Messi’s goal and assist per game ratio in his entire career is 1.13.

How are negotiations progressing between Arsenal and Sporting?

At the moment, the two sides have not reached an agreement on a transfer fee. It is believed that the Gunners were prepared to pay an inital €65m (£56m) for Gyokeres.

However, Sporting are keen to get €70m (£60m) up front and another €10m (£8.6m) in performance-related add-ons. Since holding talks last weekend, sporting director Andrea Berta has not made another bid.

In other news, Arsenal have made a decision on the future of Gabriel Martinelli