Arsenal delivered Viktor Gyokeres transfer message after concerning footage - EXCLUSIVE

Arsenal have been warned that Viktor Gyokeres closely resembles Manchester United struggler Rasmus Hojlund before he made a big-money move to Old Trafford. Both the Gunners and Red Devils have eyed Gyokeres as they both go in search of a new striker this summer, but Mikel Arteta's outfit are reportedly leading the chase.

Arsenal are said to have agreed terms on a five-year contract with Gyokeres but are yet to agree a fee with Sporting CP. The Portuguese side have been firm in their stance that the 27-year-old will not be sold for the reported price of £59million. He does have a release clause of £85m and there could be a compromise between the two figures.

However, former United and Leeds winger Lee Sharpe has cautioned against spending big on Gyokeres. He has watched footage of the Swede on several occasions and thinks that he is showing comparable signs to Hojlund.

"Viktor Gyokeres is another one that has been linked but the only thing is that the footage you see of him, it is similar to the footage of Rasmus Hojlund before he signed," Sharpe told Express Sport with Razed.

"They saw a similar sort of player who can get the ball himself, beat defenders and score on his own. He's sharp around the box and can score from crosses by full-backs, and that's exactly how Rasmus Hojlund looked on footage before he signed for Man United and seems to have struggled. Viktor Gyokeres could struggle coming from a weaker league and that's my only concern."

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Hojlund joined United two years ago from Atalanta for an initial £64m but he has scored just 14 goals in 62 appearances. The Dane only hit the back of the net four times in the league last season and has been linked with a move back to Italy.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, bagged 39 goals in 33 Primeira Liga games and led Sporting to the title.

His club are digging their heels in, however, with president Frederico Varandas insisting that a reported £59m asking price will not be enough for the Lisbon club to let go of their talisman.

"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that," Varandas said last month.

"One of the agent's biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause. He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.

"For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m euros or 90m euros.

"In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: 'It's not worth us setting a value because I don't know what will happen in a year's time. I don't know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100m euros."