Viktor Gyokeres' agent will now be allowed to claim compensation for any bids submitted that exceed £52million and end up being rejected by Sporting Lisbon as his bitter transfer saga rolls on
Goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates winning the Portuguese Cup Final at the end of the Portuguese Cup 2024/2025 - Final match between SL Benfica and Sporting CP at Estadio Nacional on May 25, 2025 in Oeiras, Portugal.
Viktor Gyokeres has been a longtime target for the Gunners(Image: Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
A clause in Viktor Gyokeres' Sporting Lisbon contract that will see the star's agent receive 10 per cent of any bid above £52million (€60m) rejected came into force on Tuesday.
And that is set to strengthen Arsenal's hand further as they look to seal the signature of one of Europe's most coveted centre forwards with L'Equipe claiming, via his representatives, that the Sweden international has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal with the Gunners.
That means the only remaining hurdle between Gyokeres arriving in north London is the transfer fee - an issue that could soon be solved with the 10 per cent rejection clause now in force.
Sporting have made it clear for months that they will not accept anything less than their £86m (€100m) release clause for their top scorer. Arsenal, who may now look to halt their interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, reportedly had a bid of about £60m rejected by Sporting last month.
Arsenal are also pushing ahead with a deal for the Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, though adding a striker remains the window's top priority.
Gyokeres joined Sporting two years ago from Coventry City in a club record €20m (£17.2m) deal and has a contract that runs until the summer of 2028.
His current club insist that they will only sell when the release clause is met but Gyokeres has claimed he made a gentleman’s agreement with the hierarchy last year that they would let him depart for €80m (£68m).
Viktor Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres' bitter transfer saga continues to roll on(Image: Getty Images)
That has been strenuously denied by furious club president Federico Varandas, who saw Gyokeres score 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions last season, and a bitter row has developed as a result.
Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Gyokeres, though their attention now appears to be on Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo having already added Matheus Cunha from Wolves in a £62.5m. United must also offload several unwanted stars, including Marcus Rashford and Antony, to fund further spending in the summer window.
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