Talk of a move for Viktor Gyokeres has died down in recent days leading to a former Arsenal forward to call on Mikel Arteta to revisit interest in Brentford and England star Ivan Toney
A week to go before the Premier League season kicks off and Mikel Arteta is still waiting for the striker he is reportedly desperate for to arrive through the door at London Colney.
But with talk of a move for ex-Coventry City man Viktor Gyokeres sinking because of Sporting Lisbon’s asking price, alternatives are now being explored.
And one ex-Gunners frontman has named two alternatives – despite the fact one is even more expensive than Gyokeres and the club’s interest in the other cooled off several months ago.
Meanwhile, a former midfielder who has recently swapped the riches of Qatar to take on the Football League has spoken exclusively to Mirror Sport, while Dominic Solanke’s possible move to Tottenham has produced plenty of fun among supporters.
Striker alternatives
Former Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers has urged his old club to consider Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins as alternatives to Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners are reportedly eyeing up Sporting CP striker Gyokeres, but his hefty £86million release clause could be a stumbling block for the north Londoners. Sporting are also in no rush to sell their prized asset, who is under contract until 2028.
Jeffers – who lifted two FA Cups and a Premier League trophy during his time at Arsenal – believes manager Mikel Arteta should instead opt for a proven Premier League goalscorer. And he has named Brentford ‘s Toney and Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins as potential targets worth pursuing.
Get the full Jeffers take here.
Solanke mocked
Dominic Solanke is closing in on a move to Tottenham and Arsenal fans have been poking fun at their rivals over an old interview with the striker.
Solanke scored 19 Premier League goals for Bournemouth last season and will look to fill the void left at Spurs after Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich last summer. Tottenham are set to trigger Solanke’s £65million release clause, but the 26-year-old has previously revealed he grew up supporting their north London rivals Arsenal .
In an interview with BBC Football Focus earlier this year, Solanke revealed his family ties to the Gunners when asked what the first football shirt he ever got was. “[It] would have probably been Arsenal,” he replied.
And the forward went on to explain exactly why.
Ex-midfielder returns
Former Arsenal midfielder Tim Akinola is excited about the chance to revive his career in the EFL after swapping Qatari riches for League Two newboys Chesterfield.
Akinola, 23, left the Gunners in a permanent move last summer to explore a new chapter with Al-Bidda, who play in the Qatari Second Division. However, he struggled to adapt to life in the Middle East, making just ten appearances, scoring two goals and adding two assists before leaving the club back in January
He returned to England but spent some time away from football before signing a one-year deal at Chesterfield following their promotion from the National League. Having spent the 2022/23 season on loan at the Spireites, it’s a club that Akinola already knows plenty about and he is buzzing to be back at the SMH Group Stadium ahead of the new campaign.
“I am so happy to be back at the club,” Akinola told Mirror Sport. “I have been here before on loan and I really enjoyed it. I am really grateful to be here.”
