Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal transfer truth clear as key step taken toward blockbuster deal

Arsenal have now entered the second full week of the summer transfer window. It has, so far, been largely uneventful.

Movement is expected to pick up in the coming days ahead of the June 30 Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) deadline. Although the Gunners are almost certain to be fine for the 2023/24 period, there could be some deals to get into.

Amadou Onana is one who may well be available for a cut price who has been linked, but it also offers an opportunity to make progress toward clearing out those who don't have a future at the Emirates Stadium. Going the opposite direction it is a striker being pursued.

Here, football.london has the latest in the world of Arsenal.

Nico Williams intention

Arsenal have made their intention to pay the full £51million release clause in Nico Williams' Athletic Bilbao contract. It is suggested that unlike Chelsea, who are looking at ways to bring the price down to closer to £45million if not less, the Gunners are willing to meet the demands of Williams and his camp.

The Spain youngster also has some pretty large wages to work around, but Arsenal have so far not flinched. Williams has long been linked with a move to England and over the weekend it was claimed that talks had already been held with Premier League clubs over a possible summer deal.

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football.london says: Something doesn't quite feel right about Arsenal going so head first into this. For starters, while a new winger would be helpful, it's far from priority, and Williams' very public financial package makes it sound off that Arsenal would signal their position so early.

He would, if granted the reported £200,000-plus a week wages, become one of the top earners at the club and that isn't inline with its structure. And until players leave, it's hard to see Arsenal doing business on this scale for anyone. Only a striker would command this sort of money right now.

Viktor Gyokeres contact

Arsenal are still in the mix for Viktor Gyokeres this summer but are nowhere near completing a deal for the striker, contrary to reports from Portugal. Fabrizio Romano says that suggestions of a deal being close are 'not true' and he added that no talks have taken place since April and May.

However, he told CaughtOffside: "They [Arsenal] are also informed about the conditions of the €100million (£85million) release clause, but also the cost of the deal in terms of salary and all the rest.

“They have still not decided what they really want to do in that position or who is the priority target. They want to take their time to assess the options, so at the moment with Gyokeres, it is not something imminent or close, but it’s an option.

“I don’t think Arsenal will go for crazy money [for Gyokeres] so it has to be maybe a different structure of the deal or Arsenal could look at different opportunities.”

football.london says: It's no surprise that Arsenal aren't sold on Gyokeres for the price. Producing high levels of output even close to that shown in Portugal is not regular for those who do make the move, just ask Darwin Nunez.

Gyokeres' performances in the Championship are more promising because players do tend to scale up, but Arsenal wouldn't think about hitting the £17million Sporting CP paid for him last summer let alone the current fee. His form and numbers are basically the only things to jusfity the figure anyway.

There are serious and justified concerns over Gyokeres' speed inside the box and how often he is able to get shots away. The last thing Arsenal need is another hesitant forward.