Arsenal and Sporting CP are still negotiating over payment terms for Viktor Gyokeres, despite reaching an agreement in principle over a week ago.
The two parties have agreed that £55million (€63.5m) will be paid upfront, but there are issues over add-ons with the Portuguese champions wanting them to be very easily achievable. There are no problems over personal terms, though, with Arsenal having a five-year contract ready for the Swede to sign.
Sporting and Arsenal chiefs have been in London for the last few days involved in negotiations but it does not look as though significant progress is being made. Though there is confidence that a full agreement will be reached, Arteta will want his new No.9 through the door by a certain date.
With all of that being said, football.london has rounded up the latest updates on Gyokeres as tension around the situation grows.
£8.7m issue
As has now been widely reported, the £8.7million (€10m) add-ons is where the problem lies. Selling clubs want those extra bonuses to be as achievable as possible while those spending funds would likely prefer the money to be team achievement based as that being paid would result in success and prize money.
With Sporting president Frederico Varandas making it clear that €60+€10 million would not be enough for them to sell, it is perhaps no surprise they are ensuring those add-ons are virtually guaranteed.
'Tense' negotiations
Though it is clear what Sporting want, Arsenal are currently not giving it to them, with Fabrizio Romano providing an update on how talks are going.
Following on from suggestions in Portugal that the deal is at risk of collapsing, he has clarified that this is not the case but that the situation has become tense.
Gyokeres' agents are also still in London with it noted that Arsenal have already agreed to pay more than they expected which may be why they are not accepting Sporting's demands for the add-ons.
Arteta deadline
Arsenal fly out for their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday, July 19 with it no surprise Arteta wants all of his summer targets on that plane.
Alongside Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera, with both of those deals finalised, the hope is that Gyokeres will also be flying over to Singapore, as per the Athletic.
It will not be the end of the world if the Swede is not part of the travelling group but with their first pre-season friendly set for Sunday, July 27 against Newcastle United, it will certainly be useful for him to be with his new teammates as soon as possible.
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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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