Why Liverpool won't hijack Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres deal

Arsenal are closing in on Viktor Gyokeres. Liverpool are unlikely to try and hijack this one, however.

The BBC report that Arsenal are close to signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. Their sporting director, Andrea Berta, is heading out for talks to close the deal.

READ MORE: At a time of tragedy Liverpool stands strong

Arsenal have been chasing a striker all summer and appear to have chosen their signing. Links to Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and others have been there but it's Gyokeres who gets the nod.

It raises questions if Liverpool would be interested in hijacking this one. They've been linked with the Swede, too, and went into this summer wanting to sign a striker as Darwin Nunez is supposedly joining Napoli.

We don't see it happening, however. Here's why.

READ MORE: Diogo Jota - He was one of us

Liverpool and Viktor Gyokeres aren't the fit

We'll start by saying that Gyokeres might actually be a better fit for Liverpool than he is Arsenal. The Reds just seem a bit better set up for a striker like him, especially after signing Florian Wirtz.

Mo Salah's goalscoring, too, draws so many defenders away that Gyokeres would have plenty of space, isolating up against single defenders as he likes to play. But again, he's not the right fit.

Liverpool are a club that really only sign perfection or players they feel can ultimately become that. That's not just a reflection of the player, either, but someone who is the right fit for the current gap in the squad.

If there's no gap, Liverpool simply don't sign anyone. If there is a gap, they want the ideal player or nothing.

We saw that with Martin Zubimendi a year ago. Liverpool desperately wanted to sign him but he ultimately rejected them. The Reds then decided not to sign anyone as they couldn't find the right player.

That led to Ryan Gravenberch becoming that 'right' player, eliminating any need to sign Zubimendi. Ironically, he's now joined Arsenal - a club we're not certain are the right fit.

And with Gyokeres, we're not sure Liverpool will see him as the 'right' fit. He's relatively unproven consistently at the elite level, coming from Liga Portugal, and that makes him a risk.

He's also 27, meaning there's little time to develop him - what you get, you get, essentially. And what you get is a player who doesn't really defend from the front, isn't particularly flexible with his play, and would apparently cost £70m.

READ MORE: Liverpool players must be given time and space to grieve

It just doesn't add up as the kind of 'ideal' signing Liverpool like. For that reason, we imagine the Reds are completely comfortable with Arsenal signing Gyokeres and leaving other options on the table.

Rest in peace Diogo Jota.