Sporting Lisbon have informed Arsenal they want a guaranteed €70m (£60.2m) plus €10m in add-ons for striker Viktor Gyökeres, after rejecting an initial offer of €65m plus €15m. The clubs are now in constructive dialogue and close to resolving the long-running saga, which has left Gyökeres frustrated.
Mikel Arteta has prioritised signing a new number nine this summer, with Gyökeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko on his shortlist. Sporting have indicated they would sell for €80m, less than his €100m buyout clause, and have held firm on that position. Gyökeres has made clear his desire to join Arsenal, and personal terms have already been agreed.
Arteta wants the deal completed quickly, ideally before Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia starting next Saturday. Gyökeres is due back at Sporting for pre-season on Friday, and reports in Portugal suggest he is unwilling to report, so determined is he to force through the move.
Sporting's record sale remains Bruno Fernandes' transfer to Manchester United in January 2020 for €55m plus €25m in add-ons. They aim to surpass that with Gyökeres, who has three years left on his contract. The Sweden international has scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, winning back-to-back league titles and the Portuguese Cup.
Arsenal have already signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for £5m from Chelsea and midfielder Martín Zubimendi for £56m from Real Sociedad. They are close to a deal for Brentford's Christian Nørgaard worth up to £15m and are considering a move for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
