Negotiations enter final phase with £5m gap remaining as Swedish striker refuses to return to Sporting training
According to A Bola, Sporting CP are aiming to conclude the sale of Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal by the end of the week, as negotiations with the Gunners near a resolution.
The two sides reportedly remain £5 million apart on valuation, but Arsenal officials are preparing what they believe could be a decisive final proposal.
Gyökeres, who has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal, earning €8.3 million per season on a five-year contract (approx. £138kpw) , is due to report to Sporting’s Alcochete training base on Friday.
However, sources cited by Record insist the striker has no intention of returning and has made it clear to the club that he will never play for them again. His entourage have also warned that, if a permanent transfer is not finalised, they are willing to explore a forced loan move late in the window.
After an initial offer in June of €55 million plus €10 million in variables was rebuffed, Arsenal returned to Lisbon over the weekend, according to A Bola.
Andrea Berta met with one of Gyökeres’s agents, Kenan Bert, and Sporting executives in what has been described as a significant, if still inconclusive, step forward.
Arsenal’s latest offer is understood to be €65 million (£54.7m) plus €15 million (£12.6m) in add-ons. Sporting continue to insist on a guaranteed €70 million (£59m) upfront.
Despite the impasse, there is cautious optimism that an agreement can be reached before the end of the week. Mikel Arteta is reportedly pushing hard to secure the forward, who he views as central to Arsenal’s plans for the coming campaign, and the club are determined not to let the situation drag on into August.
Sporting, for their part, are preparing for life without Gyökeres and are targeting Colombian striker Luis Suárez as his replacement.
The Swedish international, who scored 54 goals in all competitions last season, has become increasingly frustrated with Sporting’s refusal to accept Arsenal’s proposals. His camp also believe a promise was made in January that he could leave for a fee of €60 million plus €10 million in variables, and they are now threatening to make those communications public.
The next 72 hours are expected to be critical in determining whether this long-running saga ends with Gyökeres in London or descending further into acrimony.
Either way, it seems he will not be returning to Alcochete. That much he has apparently already decided.