REVEALED: Why Arsenal Are Yet To Announce Signing of Viktor Gyokeres

Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres continues to progress, with the club now in the final stages of negotiations to bring the prolific Sporting CP striker to north London. According to Sky Sports, the two clubs have already agreed on a fixed transfer fee of £55 million, but discussions remain ongoing regarding the structure and conditions of an additional £8.5 million in performance-related add-ons.

The deal has been a top priority for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who is keen to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the new season. Gyökeres, 26, enjoyed a phenomenal 2023/24 campaign in Portugal, scoring 43 goals across all competitions and quickly establishing himself as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. His blend of physicality, technical skill, and clinical finishing has caught the eye of multiple clubs, but Arsenal have been the most proactive in securing his signature.

Negotiations between the two clubs intensified over the weekend, culminating in a breakthrough on Sunday when they agreed on the £55 million base fee. The following days have been spent ironing out the final details of the bonus structure, with Arsenal hoping to finalise an agreement that reflects Gyökeres’ expected contributions without inflating the overall cost unnecessarily.

Sporting are understood to be holding out for bonuses tied to team success—such as Champions League qualification or winning domestic titles—while Arsenal have pushed for more realistic and player-specific milestones, including appearance counts and individual goal tallies.

Despite these final hurdles, there is optimism from all parties that the deal will be completed soon. Arsenal are believed to have already agreed personal terms with Gyökeres, who is eager to join the Premier League club. His move would represent a major step forward in Arteta’s summer transfer plan, which aims to build a squad capable of challenging both domestically and in Europe.

Gyökeres’ arrival is expected to provide healthy competition for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, both of whom featured heavily in Arsenal’s frontline last season. Arteta has made no secret of his desire to add more firepower to his team, and Gyökeres’ proven scoring record and aggressive style of play make him an ideal fit for the Gunners’ high-tempo attacking system.

Sporting, on the other hand, are bracing for the loss of one of their star players and have already begun searching for replacements. The Portuguese club had initially hoped to secure a figure closer to the striker’s release clause, but Arsenal’s strong negotiating position and the player’s desire to move to the Emirates helped bring the asking price down to a more manageable level.

Should the remaining issues be resolved in the coming days, Gyökeres is expected to travel to London for a medical and sign a long-term contract. Arsenal will then look to announce the deal before the start of pre-season, as preparations ramp up for what they hope will be a title-winning campaign.