Arsenal are lining up an improved offer for Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres after seeing their first proposal rejected, it it being claimed in Portugal.
The Sweden international is one of Mikel Arteta's top striker targets, alongside RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, after his 54 goals during the 2024/25 season played a huge role in Sporting's domestic double. Another successful campaign has all but guaranteed a big-money move, but it no longer appears as clear-cut.
A gentleman's agreement between Gyokeres and his current employers was believed to be in place which would allow him to leave for a suitable fee with a package totalling £60million (€70m), likely to be enough. However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has claimed that was never the case.
"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60+€10m (in add-ons) because I never promised him that. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season," he admitted on Wednesday.
"It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the £84million (€100m). release clause at the end of the season, especially because he was going to be 27. We knew about Viktor's dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense."
Instead, it is being reported that the Portuguese champions want at least £67.4million (€80m) and that has not gone down well with Gyokeres. "There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right," he wrote on an Instagram story.
The 27-year-old is most likely referring to comments from Varandas but he could also be hinting nothing is advanced with Arsenal despite reports. The latest of those has seen Record claim that the Gunners have already put forward a bid totalling £55million (€65m) with £8.4million (€10m) of that being add-ons.
But, that is below Sporting's new asking price and it has now been noted by Mais Futebol that the Gunners are preparing a fresh offer. The plan is for the new bid to reach over £59.7million (€70m), inclusive off add-ons, which will take Arsenal closer to what Sporting want.
Either of these being formal offers, and therefore in writing, does appear unlikely especially as Sesko appears to be the priority. There is no doubt talks for Gyokeres have been held with figures certainly mentioned but a final decision on the striker to pursue still needs to be made.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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