Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing a £63.4million deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.

A five-year contract is ready for the forward, who has been the subject of one the summer’s major transfer sagas after two prolific seasons in Portugal. 

The transfer is broken down into a £54.8m front-up fee and a further £8.4m in add-ons, according to The Athletic. 

It has been a complex saga, one fraught with division and delays, and in the end the Sweden star’s agent has waived his commission to get the deal over the line. 

Arsenal had hoped to seal the deal before they flew out to their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday, but the two sides remained at odds over bonus payments and the schedule of instalments, with Sporting pushing for more of the fee up front. 

Arsenal are reportedly on the brink of agreeing a £63.4million deal for Viktor Gyokeres

The striker has been the subject of one of the summer’s major transfer sagas but will join on a five-year deal 

It is too late for him to join Mikel Arteta’s side on their pre-season tour of Asia

There were fears that the deal could collapse at the final hurdle, something which reduced his father to tears, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola. 

Reports from the country in recent days claimed that Manchester United, managed by Gyokeres’ former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, had reignited their interest in the player. 

However, the manager’s treatment of ex-Red Devil and Gyokeres’ compatriot Victor Lindelof upset the striker, according to Portuguese outlet Record. The two players share the same agent in Turkish businessman Hasan Cetinkaya, with Lindelof said to have maintained a desire to remain at Old Trafford had he been offered a new deal by the club.

Cetinkaya was also allegedly angered by Amorim’s treatment of the centre-back given that he persuaded Gyokeres to work under the current United boss at Sporting.

Gyokeres chose the Portuguese side despite offers from eight Premier League clubs claimed to have been interested in him in the summer of 2023.

Amorim’s side did appear to be contenders but a lack of Champions League football, uncertainty over the club’s financial situation and Gyokeres’ lack of conviction over the state of a team that finished 15th in the Premier League put them out of the race.

Despite those factors, United did not appear to be deterred, with Record claiming that United submitted previous bids to Sporting above those sent by Arsenal.

However, the Swede was claimed to have remained firm in his stance that he only wants to play for the Gunners next season following their interest in him.

Ruben Amorim’s treatment of Victor Lindelof reportedly upset Viktor Gyokeres and his agent Hasan Cetinkaya

The Swedish defender, who left the club after his contract expired this summer, is also represented by Cetinkaya

During their tour of Asia, Arsenal are set to face AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore, then north London rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong.

But Gyokeres will 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 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.

But Arsenal and Sporting quibbled over the structure of Gyokeres’ fee, causing a delay

‘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.