Viktor Gyokeres becoming an Arsenal player seems inevitable but there are still some finer details to resolve with Sporting CP. The 27-year-old and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko were quickly identified as Arsenal's two potential striker signings with negotiations for both taking place.
Such is the process undertaken by Gunners' new sporting director Andrea Berta, groundwork on multiple targets is completed in order to pivot easily with the reason for those methods shown quite clearly in this case.
For much of the summer window, Sesko was the favoured choice but it is now Gyokeres and because contact was maintained with the Swede, that deal moved very quickly. This past weekend, advanced talks with Sporting to acquire his services began with it widely reported an agreement on personal terms had been reached.
With all parties desperate to get the transfer done, it has since been claimed that Gyokeres made it clear he will sacrifice €2m (£1.7m) from his salary package to facilitate negotiations. Unfortunately though, just over three days on from the major breakthrough, little progress in the deal has actually been made.
It is actually not too much of a surprise that this has happened with comments on Gyokeres from Sporting president Frederico Varandas making it clear that they would be harsh negotiators.
“If you ask me today, there is a strong possibility that Viktor will leave," he told Portuguese media outlet A Bola in late June. "We have been keeping an eye on the market, I saw a player like Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, go to Arsenal for €65 million (£55m).
"I saw two players being sold in the Premier League – Matheus Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo – forwards who do not have the quality of Viktor, in my opinion, were sold for around €70m.
"We are talking about players who are 26 years old. So, given the demands we are making in relation to Viktor 's value, I believe he could leave, unless he has the worst agent in the world. Which I find hard to believe.
"I won't say what the price we asked for. It was communicated to the agent. But I can guarantee that Viktor will not leave for €60+€10 million."
Arsenal's move for Sesko stalled over the asking price and Berta looks set for a repeat of that with Gyokeres. As things stand, Sporting want £60million (€70m) upfront but the Gunners would rather hit that fee using add-ons with their current proposal of £56million (€65m) plus a potential £13million (€15m) on top of that not being accepted.
Those bonuses likely include Arsenal winning the Premier League or Champions League and are therefore not guaranteed which is what the Portuguese champions want.
It is likely very important that a compromise is met over the coming days with any major delays possibly resulting in Arsenal leaving the deal and returning for Sesko or an alternative choice such as Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike or Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa.