Viktor Gyokeres’ father was reportedly reduced to tears upon hearing that his son’s move from Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal may collapse at the final hurdle.
Mail Sport understands that the clubs are close to agreeing a deal worth an initial £55million, with a further £7.4m in add-ons, while Gyokeres has agreed a five-year contract.
Arsenal had hoped to seal the deal before they flew out to their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday, but the two sides remain at odds over bonus payments and the schedule of instalments, with Sporting pushing for more of the fee up front.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal’s latest bid has been left unanswered for six days, as Sporting refuse to budge on their stance.
Amid fears that Gyokeres’ dream move may be slipping away, his family are reportedly devastated, believing he deserves a better send-off for his service to the club.
The report added that Gyokeres has even distanced himself from the idea of a move to north London.
Viktor Gyokeres’ drawn-out Arsenal saga is reportedly at risk of collapsing at the final hurdle
His father Stefan was reportedly reduced to tears upon hearing of the latest stumbling block
Arsenal hoped to sign Gyokeres before their Asian pre-season tour but are being forced to wait
Arsenal feel they have gone as far as possible with their offer and are reluctant to meet Sporting’s strict terms on bonuses.
But the Portuguese side insists that any variable payments must be realistically achievable, fearing Arsenal’s deal relies too heavily on future add-ons.
During their tour of Asia, Arsenal are set to face AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore, then north London rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong.
If the club get a deal for Gyokeres over the line, the striker would likely have to wait until August 6 when the Gunners host Villarreal in their first pre-season game back from Asia.
After that, Mikel Arteta’s side conclude their summer preparations against Athletic Club, before kicking off the Premier League season away at Manchester United.
Gyokeres has enjoyed a stunning two-year spell in the Portuguese top flight, netting 97 times in just 102 appearances for Sporting.
He scored 54 club goals last term across all competitions, and is rated as one of the most prolific forwards in Europe.
Should he seal a move to Arsenal, the 27-year-old will depart Sporting having earned two league titles and the Portuguese Cup during his time at the club.
Gyokeres has also reportedly distanced himself from the idea of a move to north London
But Arsenal and Sporting are still quibbling over the structure of Gyokeres’ fee, regarding bonus payments and instalments
Gyokeres joined Sporting in a £20m move from Coventry in 2023, where he had scored 43 goals in two-and-a-half seasons.
Having previously struggled to break into the first team when he was at Brighton, Gyokeres has spoken of his desire to return to the English top flight, to get revenge for his empty spell with the Seagulls.
‘It’s one of the biggest leagues in Europe,’ Gyokeres said. ‘I spent several years there without being able to play a single match.
‘So, of course, it’s something I would like to do. It would be a great revenge.’
Gyokeres would end Arsenal’s long search for a high-quality centre forward, providing Arteta’s squad with a boost as they aim to secure a first Premier League title in 22 years.
