Arsenal are preparing to secure a successor to Viktor Gyokeres as manager Mikel Arteta works on restructuring his frontline.
A year ago, the Swedish international joined the Gunners to serve as the highly anticipated center-forward, aiming to lead the line and offer a distinct focal point for an offensive unit that occasionally found goals hard to come by when Kai Havertz occupied the striker role.
However, despite registering an impressive 97 goals across 102 games during his tenure at Sporting, Gyokeres has drawn significant scrutiny and has struggled to fully convince large portions of the Emirates Stadium crowd.
Arsenal target Kaua Elias as a potential future successor to Viktor Gyokeres
Even though the 28-year-old managed to score 21 goals across various competitions last term, he found it highly challenging when facing elite opposition, only scoring against two of the Premier League’s top-ten clubs, while his overall contribution was scrutinized due to difficulties in retaining possession and linking up play compared to Havertz.
According to reports from FourFourTwo, Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on the Gunners striker. With Arsenal pursuing Julian Alvarez, there is a chance the North London side could part ways with Gyokeres just twelve months after securing him for a reported fee of £55 million, according to the BBC.
Recently, reports from Sport Witness have pointed towards Brazilian forward Kaua Elias as a viable target for the Gunners’ strike force, with TNT Sports also confirming the English club’s interest.
The Shakhtar Donetsk attacker shares several characteristics with Havertz, earning plaudits for his impressive physicality. Though the Gunners remain on the lookout for a marquee forward to elevate their attacking options, Elias could primarily serve as a valuable depth signing for the squad.
The Gunners have already completed a similar transaction this transfer window by bringing in Christos Tzolis, who is expected to serve as cover for a higher-profile winger. However, with the club shifting their attention to Alvarez following an unsuccessful pursuit of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, the configuration of the attacking department could experience some changes.
Deploying Alvarez on the left wing would likely yield better results if paired with a traditional target man, a role that Gyokeres has struggled to fulfill within the current setup.
It is understood by FourFourTwo that the club would only consider parting with Gyokeres if presented with a highly lucrative proposal, as they are not desperate to sell. Arteta remains a big admirer of the drive and commitment the ex-Coventry City striker brings to the dressing room.
For a large portion of the previous campaign, the North London outfit had to rely almost exclusively on Gyokeres as their sole natural striker, with Havertz and secondary option Mikel Merino both suffering from extended injury spells.
With both players back in full training ahead of the new season, they should help ease the pressure on Gyokeres. Consequently, the £30 million price tag associated with Kaua Elias might instead be redirected toward strengthening the backline or funding a more high-profile offensive signing.
The 20-year-old striker is currently rated at €30m by Transfermarkt, as the London club prepares to kick off their Premier League campaign against Coventry.
