Viktor Gyokeres transfer hopes fading for Arsenal

Viktor Gyokeres transfer talks between Arsenal and Sporting CP have hit a stand-still, leaving the Premier League side on the verge of abandoning their pursuit of the prolific Swedish striker.

Latest on Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga

Persistent negotiations over the Viktor Gyokeres transfer began in early June when sporting director Edu Gaspar contacted his opposite number in Lisbon. Arsenal view the 27-year-old as the complete striker Mikel Arteta craves: powerful, mobile, and ruthless in front of goal. His record of 97 goals in 102 competitive outings for Sporting CP underlines why he is admired at London Colney.

However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has refused to drop the £69 million (€80 million) valuation written into Gyokeres’ release clause, nor will he compromise on the demand for a largely up-front payment. Arsenal’s latest proposal, believed to be £50 million plus easily achievable add-ons, was swiftly rejected.

Why Arsenal are searching for a No.9

Arteta’s side finished last season with the league’s best defensive record but fell five goals short of champions Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah contributed only 11 Premier League goals between them, while Kai Havertz, redeployed as a false nine, remains more creator than clinical finisher. The technical staff therefore prioritised the Viktor Gyokeres transfer to add a decisive edge inside the penalty area.

Financial fair play considerations

Arsenal must walk a tightrope with UEFA’s new Squad Cost Rule and the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability regulations. After spending over £200 million last summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, the Gunners need sales or staggered payments to complete another marquee deal. Sporting’s insistence on cash up front clashes directly with that financial strategy.

Sporting CP’s firm stance

Head coach Rúben Amorim views Gyokeres as irreplaceable if Sporting are to defend their Portuguese title and make a deep Champions League run. The Lions do not need to sell, having banked significant profits from recent departures such as Manuel Ugarte and Pedro Porro. For that reason, they have told Arsenal that only the full release clause will trigger negotiations, effectively freezing the Viktor Gyokeres transfer unless a dramatic bid arrives.

Player’s position

Gyokeres is reportedly keen on a Premier League move, seeing Arsenal’s project and style as an ideal fit. He remains professional, but Sporting allowed him to delay his return to pre-season while discussions continued—an unusual concession that indicates player pressure from behind the scenes. Sources close to the Swede claim he is “frustrated but hopeful” a compromise can be reached before the English transfer window closes on 30 August.

Arsenal’s alternative striker options

With the Viktor Gyokeres transfer now stalling, Arsenal have revived scouting reports on several other forwards:

• Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig’s 21-year-old hitman has a similar release clause but lower wage demands.
• Evan Ferguson – Brighton’s teenage sensation is admired, though prised at a premium by another Premier League club.
• Ivan Toney – Brentford would sanction a sale for around £55 million, yet Arteta has reservations about stylistic fit.
• Joshua Zirkzee – The Dutchman’s Bologna contract includes a £34 million clause that appeals to Arsenal’s accountants.

None of the above, however, combine Gyokeres’s aerial dominance, blistering acceleration and defensive work rate—three traits Arteta values enormously.

Impact on squad planning

Arsenal’s tactical blueprint for 2024-25 includes a pressing centre-forward who can pin high lines and attack crosses from Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Delay in the Viktor Gyokeres transfer complicates set-piece routines practised during the first phase of pre-season in Marbella. It may also affect contract talks with fringe striker Eddie Nketiah, who is monitoring developments before considering Crystal Palace’s interest.

What happens next?

Club sources indicate Arsenal will make one final attempt to alter the payment structure rather than the headline figure. Sporting want at least 80 percent of the money this summer, whereas Arsenal prefer three instalments spread across 24 months. If no breakthrough emerges by the time Arsenal fly to the United States for their International Champions Cup fixtures on 24 July, the focus will officially switch to other targets.

In parallel, the player’s representatives are sounding out Premier League rivals. Chelsea and Manchester United have enquired about the cost, but both clubs face their own budgetary limitations. A switch to Saudi Arabia has been ruled out by the Swede, who prioritises elite European competition over financial gain.

Gyokeres to Arsenal: Too late or just in time?

History provides late-window precedents: Arsenal activated Thomas Partey’s release clause on deadline day in 2020 and captured Jorginho in the final 24 hours of the 2023 winter market. Therefore, while optimism is low, insiders stop short of declaring the Viktor Gyokeres transfer dead. Arteta has privately urged sporting director Edu to “leave the door open” until the final week of trading.

Opinion: a calculated risk worth taking

Allowing the Viktor Gyokeres transfer to collapse would feel like déjà vu for supporters who remember the failed moves for Dusan Vlahovic and Mykhailo Mudryk. At 27, Gyokeres is entering his prime and fits Arsenal’s tactical profile perfectly. If ownership can stretch finances without jeopardising compliance, pressing ahead might be the decisive step that turns near-titles into silverware. Walking away, while fiscally prudent, risks another season of wondering what might have been.