Arsenal are poised to sign a marquee striker during this summer’s transfer window.
Viktor Gyokeres has recently emerged as the prime target, but the club have yet to find a suitable agreement with Sporting CP for a transfer.
The Sweden international has already agreed terms on a five-year contract, but Arsenal still have work to do to convince Sporting to sanction a deal.
The Gunners have so far offered €65 million (£56.2m) as a fixed sum with €5m (£4.3m) and €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons. The latter of those add-ons could be difficult to achieve.
However, Sporting are looking for at least €70m (£60.5m) as a fixed package with €10m (£8.6m) in easy bonuses.
Arsenal officials returned to London this week without any progress, but Gyokeres is hoping that negotiations with the Gunners will progress ‘in the coming days’, as per A Bola (page 6).
The 27-year-old skipped training at Sporting CP yesterday. He was immediately sent a warning by club president Frederico Varandas that this would complicate a move even further.
Varandas clearly mentioned that he would have no problem keeping the Swede for three more years and said that the striker won’t be leaving the club unless the ‘fair market value’ is met.
The Gunners have spent part of the summer in the pursuit of a marquee striker. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko was the initial target, but they were unable to make any progress with the club or his agent.
The focus has now entirely shifted towards Gyokeres, who has given the green light for a transfer. The Swede is determined to join the Gunners and has no plans of entertaining offers from elsewhere.
The onus is on the Gunners to secure a suitable deal with Sporting CP. Varandas has made it clear that the Portuguese champions won’t be lowering their demands for the former Coventry City man.
The small difference in the fixed fee (£4.3m) should not prove a stumbling block. However, Arsenal still need to sort out the add-ons. Sporting seem to prefer player-based bonuses over team-related ones.
Arsenal travel for the pre-season tour of Asia, starting with Singapore on July 19. Manager Mikel Arteta wants a striker on board for the trip. We should see the Gunners speed up talks for Gyokeres in the coming days.
