Arsenal’s pursuit of Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has hit a roadblock, with the north London club failing to reach an agreement with Sporting CP over the transfer fee and payment structure. The Gunners are currently preparing for their pre-season tour of Asia, but Gyokeres will not be joining them as negotiations remain stalled.
Sporting CP is holding firm on their €80 million valuation of the 27-year-old forward, rejecting Arsenal’s latest bid of €63.5 million plus €10 million in performance-related bonuses. The Portuguese club is reportedly dissatisfied with some of the proposed bonus clauses, which they view as unrealistic. For instance, a €2.5 million payment for 20 appearances is considered reasonable, but other bonus terms have failed to meet Sporting’s expectations.
Adding complexity to the situation is Gyokeres’ absence from Sporting’s training camp in Lagos. The striker has missed seven consecutive days of training, raising tensions within the club. Sporting’s disciplinary code states that ten unauthorized absences could lead to contract termination, but the club is unlikely to take such drastic measures as it would allow Gyokeres to leave for free—something Sporting wants to avoid at all costs.
Arsenal recently confirmed the signing of winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea, signaling their intent to strengthen their attacking options. However, their pursuit of Gyokeres remains a top priority. Despite the current stalemate, Arsenal is expected to reinitiate contact with Sporting in the coming days to finalize not only the bonus structure but also other technical aspects of the deal.
One significant hurdle is the solidarity mechanism, which ensures that clubs involved in Gyokeres’ youth development receive compensation from the transfer fee. Additionally, the two clubs are at odds over the payment terms. Arsenal prefers to spread the fee across multiple installments, whereas Sporting insists on receiving the bulk of the payment in just two tranches.
As Arsenal’s pre-season preparations continue in Asia, time is running out for the club to secure their top striker target before the new campaign begins. The deadlock over valuation, bonuses, and payment structure could drag negotiations further, potentially affecting Arsenal’s readiness for the upcoming season. With Gyokeres still in Sweden and tensions simmering at Sporting, this transfer saga remains one of the most closely watched stories of the summer.
