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Arsenal to 'give up' on Viktor Gyokeres over Sporting demand as alternative transfer eyed

Arsenal have endured 'intense' negotiations with Sporting Lisbon over a deal for Viktor Gyokeres but the Gunners are now close to giving up on a deal for the striker and looking elsewhere

17:06, 10 Jul 2025

Viktor Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres' move to Arsenal has been thrown into doubt

Arsenal are reportedly on the brink of throwing in the towel on a deal for Viktor Gyokeres, after failing to strike an agreement with Sporting Lisbon over a financial package for the coveted striker.

The Gunners have been deep in negotiations with Sporting for Gyokeres, 27, having identified the Swedish goal machine as their top striker target. However, a team led by Andrea Berta, the club's new sporting director, couldn't seal a deal with Sporting during recent face-to-face discussions in Portugal.

Gyokeres was given permission to skip pre-season training on Monday while his club tried to hammer out a deal. He was told he could stay away until Friday, with the hope that the two clubs would reach an agreement and he wouldn't need to join - having made it clear he wants out.

Rumours about the status of the deal Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to see get over the line have been swirling in recent days, with Sporting demanding a solid £69million for their No. 9 - most of it upfront.

Portuguese publication Abola now suggests that Arsenal are close to abandoning hopes of a deal and 'giving up' after failing to re-engage Sporting in negotiations, reports the Mirror.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been locked in talks with Sporting CP

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been locked in talks with Sporting CP(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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This follows 'intense' talks over the weekend between both clubs. Those discussions didn't result in an agreement, however, with the report suggesting that the deal is now teetering on the edge of collapse.

It's believed that Arsenal and Sporting are at loggerheads over the structure of the transfer fee for the Swedish star keen to move on.

Sporting are holding out for a total of £69million, with £60m upfront and the remaining £9m in add-ons.

Arsenal, however, are proposing an initial £56m, followed by £4.5m in add-ons and the final £8.5m tied to performance-related payments. Hence, it's not all guaranteed cash, leading to a deadlock.

The player has already signalled his intention to skip pre-season training tomorrow in a bid to force through his dream Premier League move.

The Mirror previously reported that Gyokeres and Arsenal have settled personal terms on a five-year deal worth a whopping £200,000-a-week.

News that the deal could potentially collapse will be a bitter pill for Arteta, whose squad is crying out for a top-notch No. 9, after three successive second place finishes in the Premier League.

It's up in the air whether talks will resume after this hiccup or if Arsenal will shift their sights to other prospects in their bid to put together a squad capable of ending their long wait for silverware.

Viktor Gyokeres has bagged 68 goals in 66 league outings for Sporting CP

Viktor Gyokeres has bagged 68 goals in 66 league outings for Sporting CP(Image: Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a striker at Arsenal

Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a striker at Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)

The Gunners have also been hot on the heels of Benjamin Sesko this summer, and the Slovenian sensation was on the club's radar last summer before he inked a new contract with RB Leipzig.

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It's believed that Arsenal hit a snag in negotiations over a fee with Leipzig for 22-year-old Sesko, before turning their attention to Sporting for a potential deal for Gyokeres.

Sesko has been on the radar of other clubs including Al-Hilal, who are reportedly mulling over a hefty bid for the striker after realising they're unlikely to secure Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

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