Viktor Gyokeres open to Manchester United transfer – but Premier League rivals retain interest
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Arsenal are finalising a move for Viktor Gyokeres, talkSPORT understands.

The Gunners have almost agreed a deal in principle with Sporting for the Swedish marksman following a breakthrough in talks on Saturday.

Gyokeres is set to become an Arsenal player after a breakthrough in talks

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Gyokeres is set to become an Arsenal player after a breakthrough in talksCredit: AFP

Arsenal are expected to pay an initial fee of €63.5million (£55m) for Viktor Gyökeres with a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons.

Sporting no longer have to pay a 10 per cent agent commission, which was required in their original €70m+€10m asking price.

The removal of this has allowed Arsenal to pay a lower fixed fee, while Sporting receive the same funds, due to not having to deduct a now-waived commission.

Coventry City, who sold Gyokeres to Sporting in the summer of 2023 for approximately £20m, will also receive a 10 per cent sell-on fee from the profit made.

The Sky Blues initially had a 15 per cent sell-on clause inserted into the deal, but that was reduced after they sold 5 per cent at the start of the season.

With the structure of the deal nearly complete, the transfer is expected to be completed quickly as Arsenal and Gyokeres have already agreed personal terms on a five-year deal.

The end is now imminent for what has been a long-running saga that stretched beyond the current transfer window.

Arsenal were first linked with Gyokeres last summer, with reports of their interest continuing over the course of last season.

talkSPORT reported in June that the Swedish striker had decided to join Mikel Arteta’s side this summer, choosing them ahead of other potential Premier League suitors Manchester United.

Gyokeres was evidently intent on joining Arsenal after he was a no-show for the first day of Sporting’s pre-season.

Arteta has finally got his man after many months of interest

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Arteta has finally got his man after many months of interestCredit: Getty

The Swede’s snub prompted a stinging rebuke from Sporting president Frederico Varandas, as he insisted ‘no one is above the interests of the club.’

Varandas added: “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.”

Gyokeres’ impending arrival at the Emirates will appease Arsenal supporters who had been clamouring for the club to sign an out-and-out striker.

Arteta had not signed a traditional centre-forward since he took charge of the Gunners in December 2019.

Gabriel Jesus was used as a striker and a right winger by Manchester City before his switch to the Emirates in the summer of 2022.

German international Kai Havertz arrived as an attacking midfielder following his arrival from Chelsea in June 2023 but has since been transformed into a centre-forward under Arteta.

Gyokeres is set to join Arsenal on the back of a season in which he bagged 54 goals in 52 games

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Gyokeres is set to join Arsenal on the back of a season in which he bagged 54 goals in 52 gamesCredit: Getty

Gunners fans will hope Gyokeres can replicate his absurd goalscoring form of last season given no Arsenal player scored more than ten league goals.

Havertz finished as Arsenal’s leading goalscorer in the Premier League last term with a tally of nine, although he missed 14 games due to a mix of illness and injury.

Gyokeres is poised to become the Gunners’ fourth signing of the summer, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard already through the door.

The busy window marks a serious show of intent from Arteta and Arsenal as they look to shake off the tag of perennial bridesmaid.

Arteta’s side ended the 2024/25 Premier League season in second, the club’s third successive runners-up finish and ten points behind eventual winners Liverpool.

The Gunners have also failed to secure any silverware following their FA Cup triumph in 2020.

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