Viktor Gyokeres’s transfer saga took another turn this week, with Corriere dello Sport reporting that Juventus have been told directly by the Sporting CP striker’s entourage that his preference is a move to Arsenal.
The Italian side had made a concerted push to sign the 27-year-old Swede, with general manager Damien Comolli informed of Gyokeres’s stance amid growing Premier League interest. According to the report, Juventus were prepared to outbid the Gunners’ €55 million plus €10 million package by offering €60 million upfront, with a further €10 million in bonuses.
Despite this, Gyokeres has reportedly made it clear that he wants to move to England, and to Arsenal in particular. The striker scored 54 goals in all competitions for Sporting last season, helping them secure the league and cup double in Portugal.
Juventus’s need for a new striker is being accelerated by their efforts to offload Dušan Vlahović, with his contract winding down. However, with Gyokeres apparently determined to join Arsenal, the Turin club are now expected to pursue other targets.
Gyokeres is under contract at Sporting until 2028, having joined from Coventry City in a deal worth €20 million plus add-ons. The Portuguese club are keen to maximise their return on a player who has become one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe.
According to A Bola, the striker was assured by Hugo Viana that a fee in the region of €60–70m would suffice, but Frederico Varandas is now insisting on closer to €80m, rejecting Arsenal’s opening approach of €55m plus €10m in bonuses, causing tensions between the player and the club.
The situation is further complicated by a clause entitling Hasan Cetinkaya, Gyokeres’s agent, to 10 percent of any rejected bid above €60m, with Sporting reportedly threatening to demand the full clause amount if that clause is activated.