Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t been as straightforward as they would’ve liked.
The Gunners have been pushing to sign the Sporting CP striker for a few weeks now, but there is no agreement just yet.
The Portuguese champions’ president, Frederico Varandas, is playing hardball over the fee, and that has complicated things.
🚨⚠️ Sporting president Varandas on Gyökeres not showing up for pre-season: “If they don't want to pay Viktor's fair market value, we're very comfortable with that for the next three years”.
“This strategy is also making it more complicated for the player to leave. Nobody is… pic.twitter.com/VPHemfkPFq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 12, 2025
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After Gyokeres failed to report to pre-season training, Varandas released a statement saying, as per Sky Sports: “If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years.
“If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave.”
Arsenal fans have been concerned since, but there’s nothing to worry about.
Varandas’ public statement is very strong, and it doesn’t look like he has any interest in budging on his demands.
You would imagine that is a big concern for Arsenal, who have already cooled their interest in Benjamin Sesko because of his price tag.
Arsenal fans, unsurprisingly, are worried about the situation, but TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey, says nothing has changed.
The statement released by Varandas hasn’t affected the Arsenal camp one bit, and Gyokeres isn’t worried about it either.
In fact, sources have told Bailey that this was expected to happen.
He told TBR: “I’m told that this does not impact Arsenal or the player. Arsenal’s stance remains the same — they want Viktor Gyokeres and Viktor Gyokeres wants them.
“It’s obviously not ideal, but I’m told that this was to be expected. Talks continue.”
Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres looking on during a Sporting CP game
Photo by Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Viktor Gyokeres is desperate to join Arsenal
Gyokeres is absolutely desperate to join Arsenal.
The Swede is refusing to train in order to get a move away from Sporting, and reports have claimed that Gyokeres has even reduced his salary demands to become a Gunner.
To add to that, Perry Groves has revealed that Gyokeres has been an Arsenal fan since he was a kid, which further explains why he’s so keen on the move.
Another thing Arsenal supporters will love is that Gyokeres has rejected Manchester United’s advances as well — he has told them that he only wants to join Mikel Arteta’s side.
Gyokeres hasn’t even joined Arsenal yet, but we have a feeling he will become a very popular figure at the Emirates if he gets his move.