Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal
Arsenal are advancing toward signing Sporting CP’s 27-year-old Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres for £70m, with personal terms agreed and talks progressing over a payment structure (£60.5m upfront, £8.5m in add-ons). Gyokeres, who sacrificed £2m in wages to push the move, has scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, including 43 in 2024/25, and helped win back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and the 2024/25 Portuguese Cup. His prolific form (2.1 goals per 90 minutes) follows 43 goals in 116 games at Coventry, where he earned a Championship Team of the Year nod in 2022/23. Arsenal, fresh off signing Martin Zubimendi (£55m) and Kepa Arrizabalaga, see Gyokeres as their No. 9 to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League. Discussions with Sporting continue, with Manchester United and Chelsea missing out despite earlier interest.
Tottenham’s Bid for Mohammed Kudus
West Ham rejected Tottenham’s £50m offer for 24-year-old Ghanaian winger Mohammed Kudus, who prioritizes a move to a Champions League club like Spurs, who qualified via their Europa League win. Kudus, with an £85m release clause active from July 1–10, joined West Ham from Ajax for £38m in 2023 and has 13 goals and 9 assists in 65 Premier League games. Despite a dip in 2024/25 (4 goals vs. 14 in 2023/24), his 2.8 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game make him a top target for Thomas Frank. West Ham, under Graham Potter, may accept £60m cash to fund signings like Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but Chelsea’s interest, driven by Noni Madueke’s potential exit, complicates talks. Spurs plan a £62.5m bid, with Kudus agreeing to a five-year deal worth £8m annually.
Noni Madueke’s Arsenal Interest
Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Chelsea’s 23-year-old English winger Noni Madueke, valued at £50m, as a potential fifth signing from the Blues in three years. Madueke, who scored 5 goals and 3 assists in 2024/25 (1.9 shots per game), is open to joining Arsenal, who also target Eberechi Eze and Maghnes Akliouche. Chelsea, having signed Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, may sell to balance Financial Fair Play constraints, with Enzo Maresca eyeing Kudus or Ethan Nwaneri as replacements. Arsenal’s £40m bid is below Chelsea’s valuation, but negotiations continue as Mikel Arteta seeks depth for their title push. Newcastle and Crystal Palace also monitor Madueke.
Phil McNulty Q&A
BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty hosts a Q&A at 10:00 BST on July 7, 2025, addressing transfer questions from fans via X (#bbcfootball), WhatsApp (03301231826), or text (81111, UK only). Arsenal and Chelsea supporters, eager for updates on Gyokeres, Kudus, and Madueke, are expected to dominate, with Tottenham fans seeking clarity on Kudus’ talks. McNulty’s insights will cover the Premier League’s transfer window, open until September 1, and its impact on the 2025/26 season, starting August 15.
Context and Next Steps
Arsenal’s pursuit of Gyokeres, with his 85 direct goal involvements in 68 Primeira Liga games, positions them as title favorites, per fans on X, but their £185.6m summer spend raises PSR concerns. Tottenham’s push for Kudus, despite West Ham’s reluctance to sell to rivals, could see Chelsea hijack the deal, with Maresca prioritizing the Ghanaian’s press resistance (3.1 dribbles per game). Madueke’s potential Arsenal move hinges on Chelsea’s negotiations, with Nwaneri a wildcard. Fans on X debate Kudus’ fit at Spurs, citing his 2023/24 form, while Arsenal’s “dream window” excites supporters. The transfer window’s final weeks and pre-season friendlies, like Arsenal vs. AC Milan (July 26), will shape these deals.
