Featured Image Credit: The Athletic and Getty Images
Topics: Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP
Chris Nee
Topics: Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP
Viktor Gyokeres is close to securing a transfer to the Premier League, according to The Athletic.
Arsenal have been in the market for a striker in the current summer transfer window and look likelier than ever to land the Swedish frontman from Sporting CP.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has sought to stand firm on the up-front portion of the fee for the 27-year-old, who scored 68 goals in 66 league games for the Lisbon club.
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But transfer expert David Ornstein has issued a major update about the deal, which Gyokeres has reportedly tried to force through by refusing to train while the clubs work on the financial structure of the agreement.
"Arsenal are in the process of completing a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres after taking final steps in negotiations with Sporting CP for the striker," reads an update from The Athletic.
"They have now made formal advances over terms of the switch in a bid to close the proposed transfer."
Varandas and Gyokeres have been at loggerheads over the player's inevitable departure.
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Journalist Ben Jacobs reported that the president was willing to play hardball, even suggesting that Sporting would be willing to hold on to Gyokeres to the end of his contract if the club's valuation and payment demands weren't met.
"If they [Arsenal] don't want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we'll be very comfortable with that for the next three years," said Varandas, per Jacobs.
Manchester United and former Sporting head coach Ruben Amorim were also linked with the former Coventry City marksman early in the transfer window but the Gunners' pursuit is now sure to bear fruit.
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Gyokeres has been one of the most in-demand players in European football this summer.
His incredible scoring record has been a continuation of his promise with Coventry in the Championship and the Sweden international has won the league title in both of his seasons in Portugal.
He's scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 matches in all competitions for Sporting, a record that's beyond reproach irrespective of the perceived degree of difficulty of the league.
Arsenal will be eager to get the deal done well in advance of the new Premier League season.
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Mikel Arteta had to deploy unorthodox options at centre-forward last season, with Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard among the solutions after injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.