Arsenal getting closer to £86m striker transfer as details of 'multiple' scouting trips emerge

Arsenal appear to be more certain than ever that the answer to their mission to find a new striker to bring to North London lies in Portugal.

That's according to fresh reports out of the Iberian country, claiming that the Gunners are ‘increasingly following’ Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres ‘with greater interest’ in preparation for a possible summer transfer. The 25-year-old only moved to the Portuguese club before the start of the season after Coventry City agreed a fee of around £17m for his transfer.

But he has hit the ground running in the Primeira Liga, scoring 17 goals in 21 appearances. Gyokeres already has 31 goals in all competitions, weighing in with 11 assists to boot. Should Sporting decide to cash in on their instant success next summer, they could expect a return of up to five times what they paid the Sky Blues for his services less than 10 months ago.

According to Transfermarkt, the Swedish goal machine has an £85.7m release clause in his contract, which Arsenal would need to activate if they want to bring him to the Emirates Stadium for next season. But Mikel Arteta is not thought to be the only manager of a top European club looking to land one of the most prolific goalscorers on the continent.

Writing about Gyokeres in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano said: ‘Although there are many clubs that are attentive to Viktor Gyokeres at the moment, none have made a move as yet, nothing is happening now. It’s one for the summer.

‘His conditions are that he has a €100m release clause then we will see what happens in the summer – but we know how difficult is to negotiate with Portuguese clubs. Many clubs have also sent their scouts to watch him, Arsenal for sure multiple times – but also others are