Arsenal sent clear Viktor Gyokeres transfer clarification as Mikel Arteta told signing requirements

Arsenal are in a tricky position in their aim to win the Premier League title. Eleven games in and they find themselves nine points behind leaders Liverpool but with some glimmers of hope to keep the optimism in tact.

Tough games played and a London-exclusive festive run to the new year means that Mikel Arteta can build some real momentum going toward January. The window itself is a period where many, rightfully, feel Arsenal must, and have no excuses to not, invest.

The two areas where the need is greatest lies at centre-forward and a versatile attacker who can play on the wings and cover centrally in case of another Martin Odegaard issue. For the striker, the key figure most notably linked and coveted is Viktor Gyokeres.

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While certainly having won over supporters, there has not been much noise from the club's side for many months. It was almost silent through the summer window as football.london understood that while the player had been scouted, he was not considered as the club lacked the financial freedom to attack a deal.

Money failed to come in to the extent to free up movement until the final day of the window when both Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale were sold. This winter though sees the club have much more space and financial capacity to invest.

Yet the club have been told that should they want Gyokeres, they will have to pay a high price. Although some reports suggested that the Swede might be available at a cut-price deal in the summer, the evidence is that is not the case in January. Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has gone on the record to explain the situation.

“I can’t promise anything,” he said regarding a winter exit. “If a club arrives and pays the release clause, if he wants to go… he will go.

“But I do not think this will happen in January." All it takes is a club to of course stump up the suggested €100million (£83million) and Gyokeres is on the move but it seems that this reality happening is unlikely.

There are little in the way of excuses for Arsenal not to spend money this winter. The motivation, potential reward, shortcomings, reminders of injuries and the freedom financially to a degree to do so means expectations are high.

That said, with sporting director Edu Gaspar having resigned, what this means for the next market remains to be seen. Although there is an expectation much of the planning for this would have already been done to an extent.