Arsenal scout Gyokeres and defender as Man Utd watch £188m Portuguese duo

02 March 2024 , 20:30

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Viktor Gyokeres is being tracked by Arsenal (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres netted his 31st goal of the season in front of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United scouts on Thursday night.

The red-hot Swede has a whopping £86million release clause written into his deal in Lisbon following his £20.5m transfer from Coventry City last July.

Arsenal were understood to be watching multiple players in Sporting's 2-1 Taca da Liga semi-final first-leg triumph over Benfica, including 20-year-old central defender Ousmane Diomande.

But Gyokeres is understood to have been the main subject of interest as Mikel Arteta and Edu plan to prioritise the signing of a marquee striker when the transfer window reopens.

The Gunners were unable to make any wiggle room for a centre-forward in January due to financial limitations and the delay means Gyokeres has now emerged as one of the main names on their radar. Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen, Evan Ferguson, Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Sesko are also expected to form part of their thinking in the coming months.

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Additionally, Chelsea have also shown interest in Gyokeres and Ivorian centre-back Diomande while Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan were also among those present at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Ousmane Diomande has caught the eye of Arsenal and Chelsea (Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Man Utd are keen on Benfica star Joao Neves (MANUEL FERNANDO ARAUJO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Meanwhile, United have been carrying out extensive checks on Benfica's promising young duo Joao Neves and Antonio Silva all season. The Red Devils have had scouts at the majority of Benfica's matches - both domestic and European - this term to watch the two Portuguese gems in action.

Neves' current release clause stands at £102m though that is likely to be increased if he pens a new deal, while central defender Silva is available for £85m. Benfica could be forced to accept offers shy of those figures, however, as they owe in excess of £60million in loans to financial entities after significant recent investment in their squad.

The Portuguese giants released a strong-worded statement back in January denying they had entered formal talks with United over the sale of Neves. United captain Bruno Fernandes has already made it clear he would be a huge advocate of any transfer that would see his compatriot move to Old Trafford.

Speaking last month, the 19-year-old refused to provide assurance that he will remain with Benfica beyond the summer. He said: "I'm focused on Benfica and even more so on [Thursday's] game, which is the next one. I think I will do my best in every game and in every training session."

Ryan Taylor