Gyokeres very seduced by Arsenal project and €8.3m wage offer

Viktor Gyokeres is increasingly leaning towards a move to Arsenal, with the club’s proposal appealing both financially and in terms of sporting ambition.

The Sporting CP striker, who has been one of Europe’s most prolific forwards this season, is understood to be highly impressed with the plan laid out by Mikel Arteta and technical director Andrea Berta, and sees Arsenal as one of his preferred destinations.

Arsenal 'grab' Gyokeres Salary of the Swede in the 'gunners' set at 8,3 million euros. English have set aside 75 million for the deal with Sporting. There are more emblems interested, but the goalscorer has in the Londoners one of the favorites A BOLA14 May 2025 Viktor Gyokeres here against Arsenal, which can be his club in 2024/2025 Arsenal have already grabbed on emotionally and even financially. The news given yesterday to estampa by A BOLA that there is already an agreement in salary terms between the gunners and the Swede for a salary in the order of 8,3 million euros for each of the four or five seasons of the contract was echoed in England, with the British press ensuring that, given the influence of the new sporting director of the Londoners, Andrea Berta, the number 9 of the Lions surpassed in the race for a place in the Arsenalist attack the Slovenian Benjamin Sesko, from the Germans of RB Leipzig. And there is even a possible figure for the deal between the arsenalists and the Lions to materialize: 75 million euros. Despite all this information pointing the player to the Emirates Stadium, the same press ensures that Chelsea has not yet withdrawn from the race for the Scandinavian, knowing that the blues are usually generous in financial offers for both the player and the clubs. This factor would be good news for the SAD administration of Sporting, because, although Grado has established a pact with the player, his manager, Hasan Çetinkaya, so that the exit is processed this summer for a sum between 70 and 75 million euros, a possible entry into the scene of the blues would make the London rivals enter into dispute, which could increase the value of the offers to figure closer to the termination clause, which is €100 million. However, according to the data compiled by our newspaper, Gyokeres is very seduced by the project that Arsenal presented him and they have him in the lot of the favorites, since those responsible for the gunners, who have Mikel Arteta in technical command, are willing to give more and more weapons to the Spanish coach to regain the Premier League, A title that has eluded them for a very long 21 years, since the last won was in 2003/04, when Arséne Wenger was the manager the gunners still did not even live at the Emirates Stadium, but rather in the old Highbury Park Therefore, with all the data compiled, Gyokeres points to the Arsenal and everything indicates that this is the destination. From day 26 this matter will be defined, because until then, the Lions have the 21.º title and the Portuguese Cup to conquer and the Swede wants to add to the collective record an individual: the best European scorer in 2024/2025. — A BOLA, 14 May 2025, Arsenal ‘grab’ Gyokeres

As first reported by A BOLA, the two parties have reached a salary agreement worth around €8.3 million per season (£133kpw), with a contract expected to run for four or five years. Arsenal have provisionally allocated €75 million for the deal, which would be within the range previously agreed between Sporting, Gyokeres, and his agent Hasan Çetinkaya.

Although Chelsea are still in the picture, Arsenal’s early groundwork has given them a clear edge. The Stamford Bridge club are monitoring developments and, as always, are capable of offering significant financial terms to both club and player. Any formal move from Chelsea could drive the price closer to the €100 million release clause, which Sporting would welcome.

But the preference of the player may ultimately be decisive.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 5: Head Coach Josep Guardiola of Manchester City congratulates goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Sporting CP and Manchester City at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 5, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) — Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

“Gyokeres is very seduced by the project that Arsenal presented him,” reported A BOLA. The striker is understood to be attracted to the direction and ambition shown by the club, with Arteta seen as a key factor. Arsenal are determined to strengthen this summer as they look to end a title drought stretching back to 2003–04, when Arsène Wenger last guided the club to Premier League success.

Arsenal have reportedly made clear they see Gyokeres as a primary option. Internally, he is considered to have moved ahead of Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, who had previously been under consideration. The change in stance reflects the influence of Berta, who has been central in driving the deal forward.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 28: Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg at Red Bull Arena on September 28, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) — Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Gyokeres, however, remains focused on his final weeks with Sporting. The Portuguese side are in contention for a league and cup double, and the striker is also chasing the European Golden Shoe. No transfer will be finalised before May 26, with all parties respecting Sporting’s desire to close the season without distractions.

Barring any late developments, Arsenal are well placed. The club have presented their plan, agreed terms with the player, and indicated a willingness to meet Sporting’s valuation. The next step rests on whether anyone else (Chelsea) is prepared to force the issue.