The Athletic’s David Ornstein has provided a significant update on Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal have an ‘agreement’.
The Gyokeres saga has become quite tiresome, and it seemed it would drag on until the end of this transfer window, though this may not be the case.
Gyokeres, who has scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, hoped that his exit from Sporting Lisbon would be seamless as he had a gentleman’s agreement with club chiefs.
However, Sporting decided to go back on their word and have demanded a higher fee from the striker’s suitors, thus making negotiations more complicated.
Gyokeres is second in our ranking of this year’s top scorers in Europe, and Arsenal have made him their top transfer target.
The Gunners are crying out for a new striker as they require a top-tier upgrade on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, with Gyokeres preferred to Benjamin Sesko and Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal achieved a breakthrough with Gyokeres earlier this month, with the 27-year-old reportedly coming to terms on a lucrative five-year contract.
Since then, Arsenal have been in talks with Sporting Lisbon over the structure of the deal and fee, with Ornstein revealing a fresh update in a report for The Athletic on Sunday evening.
He claimed Arsenal are in the ‘process of completing a move for Gyokeres after taking the final steps in negotiations with Sporting Lisbon’ as they ‘made formal advances on deal terms over the weekend in a bid to secure the striker’.
It is also noted that ‘he would be Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer window’ after Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard, while ‘the club have also agreed a deal for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
The report adds:
Talks have been prolonged by Sporting president Frederico Varandas refusing to accept what Gyokeres believes was an agreement to leave this summer for €60million plus €10m of add-ons. That amount is exceeded by Arsenal’s proposals and they have now made formal advances over terms of the switch in a bid to close the proposed transfer.
‘The 27-year-old Sweden international emerged as Arsenal’s preferred target to recruit a specialist centre-forward and prioritised them over all other suitors, while manager Mikel Arteta wants him to join the squad at the earliest opportunity.’
Fabrizio Romano subsequently revealed how much Arsenal are willing to pay for Gyokeres. He tweeted: ‘The agreement between Arsenal and Sporting for Viktor Gyökeres, getting closer after new contacts today.
‘Negotiations between clubs never off despite reports, as Gyökeres only wanted Arsenal.
‘#AFC now willing to get closer to €70m plus €10m add-ons as Sporting want.’
Ornstein later revealed the ‘agreed’ fee between Arsenal and Sporting.
‘Sporting confirm a deal in principle is in place, with an agreement of a €63.5million fixed upfront fee plus €10m in add-ons, while the striker’s agent has waived his fee to help facilitate the deal.’