Ethan Nwaneri fires cryptic Viktor Gyokeres message as Arsenal finalise transfer details

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Amid Arsenal's push to sign Viktor Gyokeres, the Gunners' Ethan Nwaneri has coincidentally been spotted wearing a Sporting CP shirt.

With intensive work put into the striker Arsenal would eventually target to join Mikel Arteta's squad, advancements have finally been made towards landing Gyokeres over the alternative Benjamin Sesko, as talks with RB Leipzig began to stall. Sporting's No.9 is understood to be open to the move.

The efforts of Andrea Berta are now focused on reaching an accord with the champions of Portugal. The overall figure appears not to be an issue as both parties agree €80m (£69m) valuation, but it is how the deal is structured that must be resolved, football.london understands.

Negotiations continue to iron out these details with little over a week until Arsenal fly to Asia for their pre-season tour.

As excitement brews amongst supporters of seeing a new star striker sign for the club, Nwaneri might have done his bit to stir the pot with a subtle hint.

The 18-year-old is currently enjoying an extended break over the summer before joining up with the Gunners, having taken part in England Under-21s' European Championships success in July.

He is still committed to being in the best shape possible whilst away, sharing a selection of holiday snaps to Instagram that included some private training photos. Included in those was one that caught the eye as he wore the 2024/25 Sporting home shirt.

(Image: Instagram: @ethannwaneri)

Nwaneri featured as a 78th-minute substitute in last November's Champions League meeting with the Portuguese team at their Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon. He could have picked up the shirt by swapping with an opposition player that night - it is impossible to clarify without the reverse of the shirt showing - but the point is out of all the shirts the youngster will have swapped in his career, he just had to choose to wear that one in this current moment.

Not only a moment where Arsenal vie to sign Gyokeres, but also a moment where his own future is highly uncertain.

As of July 1, Nwaneri is into the final year of his current contract as a Gunners star. Without an agreement reached he will be able to leave for free next summer.

If Arsenal are to increase their attacking numbers this summer in response to failing to hit the 70-goal mark in the Premier League last season, he could end up falling down the pecking order when his ambition is to break into Arteta's side. There is also the debate over his true position with the ability to play both as a winger and an attacking midfielder.

Other clubs including rivals Chelsea are reportedly sniffing around in the event that he does not sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Arteta remains a big fan of the player he made the Premier League's youngest-ever debutant. The hope will be that Nwaneri follows Myles Lewis-Skelly's example and commit to the club for the long-term.

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