Arsenal have been handed significant news about their pursuit of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta and the recruitment team now alerted to a potential deal-breaker in talks.
Arsenal in reported talks over signing Viktor Gyokeres this summer
In the last few days, reports from both Portugal and England have claimed that Mikel Arteta's side are moving forward in their attempts to seal a move for the 26-year-old.
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The Gunners have already been hijacked by La Liga's heavyweights.
A Bola report Arsenal have offered Gyokeres a £7 million-per-year contract already, with Sporting setting an asking price of around £63 million amid Berta's pretty serious interest in striking a deal for the Primeira Liga superstar.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports) Money on new signings
19/20 - winter £0
20/21 - summer £81.5m
20/21 - winter £900k
21/22 - summer £156.8m
21/22 - winter £1.8m
22/23 - summer £121.5m
22/23 - winter £59m
23/24 - summer £208m
23/24 - winter £0
24/25 - summer £101.5m
24/25 - winter £0
CaughtOffside, meanwhile, state Arsenal are in advanced club-to-club talks for Gyokeres as they look to steal a march on Premier League rivals Man United and Liverpool in pursuit of his signature.
Going by these claims, it would appear that the Gunners' links to Gyokeres stretch far beyond just interest, with Berta looking to sign a top striker for Arsenal as one of his key summer priorities.
“I’m not inside to know their thoughts, but definitely, I would say a striker, a top, top striker, that can bang in 40 to 50 goals like all the top teams.” said ex-Arsenal star and Como boss Cesc Fàbregas to Amazon Prime recently.
cesc-fabregas-como-serie-a
“He [Gyokeres] could be an option, 100 per cent. He is an extraordinary striker.
"He is a focused player, who pays attention to details, he is competitive, never lets his guard down, and doesn’t want to rest. He is as an athlete, a player and team-mate who instils confidence in his team-mates with what he gives to the team.”
Called a "phenomenon" by Rui Borges, the former Coventry City striker has been free-scoring since making the move to Portugal, and currently boasts 52 goals from 50 appearances in all competitions this season.
Arsenal receive "major" Gyokeres update amid Sporting deal-breaker
However, Gyokeres' electric form also puts Sporting in a solid negotiating position, even if there is a release clause in his deal.
Football Transfers state that Arsenal are determined to finalise a deal for Gyokeres, and will have representatives in attendance to watch him play in the Taca de Portugal final against Benfica on May 25.
gyokeres-sporting
In what they describe as a "major update", though, Berta and co are informed of a key requirement on Sporting's end which could prove an obstacle in Arsenal's talks to sign Gyokeres.
Sporting are adamant the vast majority of his final agreed transfer fee must be paid within two years, and this may prove problematic for the north Londoners. Arsenal are required to agree to Sporting's terms or risk another club swooping in to hijack their move, as per FT, so the transfer is proving more complicated than initially reported.
Arsenal have alternatives to pursue if a move does collapse, but Berta is believed to be especially keen on Gyokeres.