Arsenal tipped to make major £69m transfer decision amid striker chase

Arsenal are said to be ‘very close’ to signing Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres. The news is not yet coming out of Portugal, however Sporting’s dedicated news outlet Leonino has claimed this report has a big exclusive.

The news outlet has said it is only ‘financial details’ that are currently holding up the agreement for now, although there is no suggestion at present on how much Arsenal have offered for the Sporting star frontman.

Leonino continues: “If this transfer to Arsenal takes place, Gyokeres will have the opportunity to show all his talent in the most competitive championship in the world. Sporting, in turn, is preparing to make the biggest sale in its history.

“Remember that in the 2023/24 season, Gyokeres participated in 50 games for Sporting, scoring 43 goals and making 14 assists. Along with direct qualification for the Champions League by winning the championship, this record sale will provide the green and white SAD with even greater scope to reinforce the squad and fight for a second championship next season.”

Gyokeres joined the Portuguese outfit just last summer from Coventry City, with Ruben Amorim’s side paying only €21m (£17.7m) for his signature. The Sky Blues also included a sell-on clause meaning that the Championship club will get a percentage, understood to be 10 percent, of the profit on any future sale.

Since joining in summer 2023, Gyokeres has gone on to score 43 goals and contribute 15 assists in his 50 appearances for Sporting CP and, unsurprisingly, has been a key topic of transfer gossip this summer.

Sporting, who do not wish to part with the Swedish star, will demand £68.5 million for Gyokeres’ sale as they bid to keep hold of the 26-year-old for as long as possible. Previous indications suggested that his release clause was, however, closer to £86 million.

It was initially presumed the Gunners would be unwilling to pay such a sum for a new striker. However, following news that transfer interest has cooled with Joshua Zirkzee and that Benjamin Sesko signed a contract extension with RB Leipzig, Arsenal could be willing to cough up the goods in order not to lose out on any more of their attacking-transfer targets.