Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres is being delayed by disagreements over the add-ons and payment terms in their ongoing negotiations with Sporting CP.
The Gunners have tabled an offer of €63.5m for the Swedish striker, with an additional €10m in performance-related bonuses, but the deal has yet to be finalised due to Sporting CP‘s refusal to accept these terms.
The main issue centres around the structure of the add-ons, with Sporting CP insisting on realistic and easily achievable targets, such as €2.5m for 20 appearances.
However, Arsenal‘s proposed bonus conditions have been considered less straightforward by the Portuguese club, according to A Bola, causing a standstill in negotiations.
While Arsenal remain determined to sign Gyokeres, the gap between the two clubs on the bonus structure is proving difficult to bridge.
Additionally, the payment terms have caused further complications.
Arsenal are hoping to extend the payment period by four instalments, while Sporting CP are insisting that the payments be made in two.
Another factor is the Solidarity Mechanism, which involves paying a portion of the transfer fee to the clubs where the player was trained at a younger age.
Normally, the club receiving the transfer fee covers this cost, but Sporting CP are asking for a 50/50 split, further complicating matters.
With Gyokeres currently on strike, the player’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has waived the €7m commission he would be owed from the deal to try and get things over the line, but it appears that has still not been enough for Sporting.
The striker has now missed seven consecutive training sessions since Sporting CP‘s return to pre-season. Although Sporting could theoretically terminate his contract due to these absences, doing so would render the player worthless to them, which makes that an extremely unlikely outcome.
As Arsenal head to Asia for their pre-season tour, the clock is ticking on the Gyokeres transfer. The Gunners are still in a very advanced position, but with the deal hanging on the final details, it remains to be seen whether the clubs can reach an agreement before the end of the tour.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a swift resolution, as the Gunners look to finalise their squad ahead of what promises to be a crucial campaign.