Arsenal’s summer transfer ambitions are teetering on the edge as fears mount over the club’s top striker target Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish sensation, who netted a staggering 54 goals last season for Sporting CP, has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice No. 9, a potential game-changer in the Gunners’ pursuit of their first Premier League crown in over two decades.
Negotiations between Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon have reached a critical point. Despite face-to-face talks held in Portugal last week, both clubs left the table without sealing an agreement, sparking real concern that the €80 million (£68.9m) deal might collapse.
The situation worsened after Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta and his delegation flew back to London empty-handed.
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Sources close to Gyokeres suggest the 27-year-old striker is beginning to “fear the worst” after witnessing the talks stall.
Having made it clear to Sporting that he wants the move to North London, Gyokeres now finds himself in limbo, with pre-season training looming. The striker was granted extended leave but is expected to rejoin Sporting’s squad by Friday, a deadline now looming large over both clubs.
Initially, Arsenal tabled an €80m bid, broken down into €65m upfront and €15m in add-ons. While this matched Sporting’s valuation in total, the Portuguese giants were unhappy with the structure of the payment.
However, in a crucial update reported by A Bola, Arsenal are said to be revisiting their offer and showing a willingness to restructure the deal, this time potentially aligning closer to Sporting’s preference of €70m plus €10m in bonuses.
Arsenal’s interest in Gyokeres has been long-standing, despite also monitoring Benjamin Sesko earlier in the window. Yet Gyokeres’ relentless scoring record and his physical profile have convinced Arteta and Arsenal’s hierarchy that he is the man to lead the line for the 2025/26 campaign.
With Sporting refusing to budge on their valuation and Arsenal desperate to avoid another high-profile failure in the transfer market, all eyes are on whether a last-ditch agreement can be reached before the weekend.
This is more than just a transfer, it’s a power play with huge implications for Arsenal’s title hopes and Gyokeres’ career.
The Gunners are also reportedly eyeing further reinforcements, including an elite left winger, as they look to build a squad capable of finally dethroning Manchester City.
The coming days could define Arsenal’s season. Will the North London giants close the deal, or will they once again come up short in the chase for a marquee signing?
