Sporting CP make important decision amid Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal transfer breakthrough

Sporting CP have unveiled Conrad Harder as club's No.9 for the 2025/26 season.

Viktor Gyokereshas donned that shirt for the last two years but, with the Swede closing in on a move to Arsenal, the Portuguese side have opted to give the number to a new home.

Harder, 20, completed a move to Sporting in a £16.6 million deal from Nordsjaelland in September 2024. Prior to signing for Sporting, he attracted interest from Brighton.

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Despite Nordsjaelland accepting a bid from Fabian Hurzeler's Seagulls, the forward opted to sign for Sporting instead. However, since his move to Portugal, Harder has struggled for regular game time. Indeed, the one-time Denmark international started just seven Primeira Liga matches last season.

A lone centre forward during his time at Nordsjaelland, Harder often found himself playing out wide or as a second striker due to Gyokeres' presence and impressive goalscoring form. In fact, more than 50 per cent of Harder's appearances for Sporting last season were not in his preferred position as the sole striker.

But, as Sporting prepare to bid farewell to Gyokeres, Harder is expected to be given more opportunities up front in the 2025/26 season. Hinting that is going to be the case, Sporting have given him Gyokeres' No.9 shirt.

Harder wore the No.19 shirt during his first season at Estadio Jose Alvalade, but he has now swapped to wear the same number Gyokeres had on his back for the last two years. However, Harder has big boots to fill, as Gyokeres found the net 97 times in 102 matches after his move to Sporting from Coventry City in 2023.

Gyokeres landed in London on Friday and is expected to undergo his medical before putting the finishing touches on his £55m plus £8.5m add-ons move to Arsenal. The plan for Gyokeres, once the deal is complete, is for him to travel out to South East Asia to meet his new teammates on the club's pre-season tour.

As Sunday's pre-season fixture against Newcastle United is set to come too soon, Gyokeres is on course to make his Arsenal debut in the clash with rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Should a deal go through, Gyokeres would become Arsenal's sixth signing of the summer. The Gunners have brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera for a combined £159m as Arteta tries to get his squad in shape and prepared for another title push.

Arsenal finished ten points behind eventual Premier League champions Liverpool last season and ended in second for the third successive campaign.

In an attempt to bridge the gap and go one better, the Gunners have spent big and hope to strengthen even more before the transfer window closes.