Arsenal are set to resume negotiations with Sporting next week over a deal for Viktor Gyökeres, with the striker maintaining his desire to move to north London despite pressure from elsewhere.
The 27-year-old, who scored 54 goals and provided 13 assists in 52 appearances last season, remains a top priority for Arsenal, who held initial discussions with Sporting officials last week.
Those talks did not yield a formal offer, but according to A Bola, a second meeting has already been scheduled, and this time the Premier League runners-up are expected to return with an improved proposal.
Sporting are holding out for €80 million (£68m), while Arsenal’s initial figures reportedly reached €55m plus €10m in bonuses. Although that fell short of Sporting’s demands, there is now growing optimism that a compromise may be found.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has made clear he will not accept a reduced fee, despite disagreements with Gyökeres’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, whose role in the process has attracted scrutiny in Portugal. A clause in the striker’s contract entitles Cetinkaya to a 10 percent commission if any official offer of €60m or more is rejected, a factor which could further complicate negotiations.
Despite this, Gyökeres has reportedly consistently made it known that his preferred move is to Arsenal.
Portuguese outlet A Bola reports that Manchester United remain interested but are only likely to enter the race if Arsenal formally withdraw. Juventus have also expressed interest, though the financial demands appear prohibitive for the Italian side.
Gyökeres is said to be pushing for the move and has grown frustrated with Sporting’s stance, which some in Portugal have characterised as deliberately obstructive. Jornal de Notícias noted this weekend that the player is “in rupture” with the club and that Sporting may ultimately be forced to act if Arsenal’s next offer closes the remaining gap.
Meanwhile, Arsenal continue to keep tabs on other forwards, including Benjamin Šeško and Ollie Watkins, though neither is believed to be as advanced as the Gyökeres pursuit. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has led the discussions and remains hopeful that progress can be made before the end of the month.
Sporting head coach Rui Borges has asked his board to prepare for the possibility of Gyökeres leaving by signing two new strikers, while also seeking reinforcements in midfield and at right-back.
As it stands, Arsenal remain firmly in the lead, with renewed talks expected to determine whether Sporting will move off their €80m valuation or risk holding on to an increasingly unsettled player.