BREAKING NEWS: Player’ agents ‘met up with Arsenal directors in London on Wednesday over signing £80m South American striker – Terms agreed between both paties as deal set to be Announced in the next few hours
BREAKING NEWS: Player’ agents ‘met up with Arsenal directors in London on Wednesday over signing £80m South American striker – Terms agreed between both paties as deal set to be Announced in the next few hours
Viktor Gyokeres’ future continues to attract attention as new developments suggest the Sporting striker may be edging closer to a move. The 27-year-old has become one of Europe’s hottest prospects, having scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 games since joining Sporting in 2023. His performances have put him on the radar of top clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United, and Juventus. Reports now suggest that Arsenal have made significant progress in the race to sign him.
According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Gyokeres’ representatives recently traveled to London to meet with Arsenal officials. The meeting included key figures from both sides as they explored how to reach an agreement with Sporting. There’s reportedly no issue from the striker’s side—he is eager to make the move and is especially interested in joining Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta is said to be a strong admirer of the Swedish international.
However, the deal may not be straightforward. Gyokeres has allegedly clashed with Sporting over their high valuation, which could delay or complicate the transfer. Tensions escalated recently when Gyokeres supposedly warned he would never play for the club again unless they lowered their asking price. This prompted a fiery response from Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas.
The striker’s contract includes an £84 million release clause, but it was previously believed that there was a gentleman’s agreement in place allowing him to leave for a reduced fee—reportedly £51 million plus £8 million in add-ons. Now, Sporting is said to be demanding closer to £67 million, which has reportedly angered Gyokeres. He is described as furious with the club president and has communicated that he will not wear the club’s shirt again.
Varandas has responded firmly, insisting he will not be pressured by threats or manipulation. He denied ever promising a specific transfer fee and criticized Gyokeres’ agent for playing games in the media. According to Varandas, while Sporting did agree not to enforce the release clause, they never committed to a fixed price. He explained that at the time of negotiations, he refused to set a price in advance due to uncertainties like injuries or changes in form.
The Sporting president clarified that he told the agent they would be flexible and reasonable, but never gave a guarantee of a €60 million deal. He expressed frustration at the agent’s recent public statements and reiterated that Sporting is acting with integrity and common sense.
As things stand, Gyokeres appears to be distancing himself from the club. He has removed all Sporting references from his Instagram profile, as well as mentions of Sweden and Nike. Despite having three years left on his contract, the striker seems determined to leave, aiming for a new challenge after winning two league titles and completing a domestic double in just two years at Sporting.
