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Arsenal will reportedly turn their attention towards Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins if they fail to land their primary target Viktor Gyokeres. As reported by The Daily Mail, the Gunners have identified Watkins as an alternative to the red-hot Sweden international.
Gyokeres has emerged as one of the most coveted players in world football thanks to his exceptional showings for Sporting CP. He has scored for fun since joining the Portuguese side from Coventry City in 2023 for just €20 million.
The Sweden international has found the back of the net 97 times while providing 28 assists in 102 appearances for the Lions. His exceptional numbers has been the key reason behind Sporting CP's back-to-back Primeira Liga titles.
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Gyokeres has been heavily linked with both Arsenal and Manchester United in recent months. The Swede has reportedly turned down a reunion with Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford and wants to join Mikel Arteta's side.
However, Sporting CP are reportedly holding out for Gyokeres' £85 million release clause. They have reportedly snubbed two offers from the Gunners worth £55m and £60m respectively.
Arsenal have reportedly run out of patience and are now looking for alternatives and have identified Watkins as a candidate. RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Sesko is another option they are believed to be exploring.
Watkins is proven in the Premier League and has been a reliable goalscorer for Aston Villa in recent years. He has scored 87 goals and provided 42 assists in 223 appearances for the Lions till date.
Pundit claims Premier League striker would excel in the Arsenal side
Pundit Darren Ambrose has claimed that Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood would net over 20 goals if he played for Arsenal. The former Newcastle United has insisted that Wood has what it takes to solve the Gunners' goalscoring problems. In an interview with Rory Jennings on talkSPORT, Ambrose said:
"If you put Chris Wood in the Arsenal side, he gets over 20 goals, He does. Look at the goals he's scoring now... He's an out and out goalscorer. I you put [Jean-Philippel Mateta in there, he probably gets 15 to 20 goals."
He added:
"The reaction you've given me there, it's frowned upon, and that's what Arsenal fans would do. They'd laugh, they'd go, 'Can't have Chris Wood! Why? The guy's just scored 20 plus goals at Nottingham Forest. "We're talking about goalscorers, What are we looking for if you're Arsenal? Are we looking for just a superstar that you go and pay £100 million for? This is why... My argument for Chris Wood and Mateta is an argument that would get ridiculed by certain supporters."
The lack of a prolific goalscorer up front has let Mikel Arteta's side down in recent years. For the third season in a row, they finished second in the Premier League and the Gunners have been heavily linked with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Chris Wood is an experienced striker who has played at various levels of English football over the years. He enjoyed a phenomenal season with Nottingham Forest last time out scoring 20 goals in 36 league games.
