Arsenal have confirmed the signing of striker Viktor Gyökeres, marking him as a standout acquisition in this transfer window. Gyökeres, who will don the No. 14 jersey, is set to join Arsenal’s squad on their pre-season tour in Asia. The striker’s recent form at Sporting was exceptional, registering 39 goals in Liga Portugal and contributing to their league title victory. Notably, Gyökeres earned international attention following a Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City.

Sporting Director Andrea Berta commented, “We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club. Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.”

Manager Mikel Arteta added, “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Viktor Gyökeres to the club. The consistency he has shown in his performances and availability have been outstanding, and his goal contributions speak for themselves.”

Arteta further described Gyökeres as “a quick and powerful presence up front, with incredible goalscoring numbers at club and international levels. He brings a clinical edge with a high conversion rate of chances into goals, with his intelligent movement in the box making him a constant threat.”

Gyökeres follows the recent signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, joining new additions Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Nørgaard as Arsenal strengthens its ranks this summer. Gyökeres could make his debut on July 31 against Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly.

Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest in acquiring João Palhinha from Bayern Munich amid limited playing opportunities under manager Vincent Kompany. Reports indicate that while there have been no formal negotiations yet, Palhinha’s representatives have been made aware of Tottenham’s intention to monitor his situation closely.

The Athletic has highlighted Tottenham’s preference for a loan arrangement rather than pursuing a permanent transfer. The club is seeking a combative defensive midfielder to strengthen their squad as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League season under new manager Thomas Frank. However, financial caution is advised given Tottenham’s significant summer expenditures.

German outlet SPORT BILD further confirms Tottenham’s loan preference but reveals Bayern Munich’s valuation of Palhinha at approximately €25 million (£21.9 million, $29.4 million) for a permanent deal. This represents a notable depreciation from Bayern’s €51 million expenditure on the midfielder last summer.

Despite these developments, Palhinha remains committed to competing for his place at Bayern Munich next season, stating his intention to stay and fight for playing time. Nevertheless, he is open to considering “a truly top-notch offer” should one arise. Interest has come from multiple countries including England, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Portugal, with Arsenal previously showing interest earlier in the summer.

Liverpool experienced their first pre-season setback of the summer with a 4-2 defeat against AC Milan in Hong Kong. The Reds initially dominated possession and showcased promising attacking play. A standout moment came from 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who set up Dominik Szoboszlai for a remarkable finish, equalizing the match with a strike into the top corner.

Throughout the first half, Christian Pulisic came close to putting Milan ahead twice, while Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah threatened to regain the lead. The half ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Liverpool made significant changes at halftime, but Milan’s counter-attacking prowess soon told. Ruben Loftus-Cheek calmly converted Leão’s pass to regain Milan’s lead. Later, a rapid break saw Noah Okafor score a precise shot, pushing Milan’s advantage to 3-1.

As Liverpool sought a comeback, Ryan Gravenberch narrowly missed with a shot that hit the crossbar, and Jeremie Frimpong almost found the net with his inaugural goal for the Reds. A late header from Cody Gakpo reduced the deficit, but a costly error between Kostas Tsimikas and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili allowed Okafor to seal Milan’s fourth.

The player ratings reflect a mix of performances from Liverpool, with Szoboszlai receiving notable praise for his goal, while newcomers like Ngumoha and Gakpo impressed. For Milan, Leão and Okafor stood out with exceptional contributions.

Despite the loss, the friendly offered Liverpool valuable insights ahead of the Premier League season.