Viktor Gyokeres has become the number one target of Arsenal this summer, because Mikel Arteta wants to get a new striker over the line, but conversations with Sporting Lisbon have proved difficult – with both parties who fail to agree on compensation
Sporting Lisbon has imposed a “cooling” period during conversations with Arsenal on Viktor Gyokeres after reaching a stalemate with the Gunners. The Portuguese club decided earlier this week to put conversations after he had not reached an agreement for the Swedish striker, who is pushing hard to become a member of Arsenal.
But Sporting is now ready to resume serious negotiations within the next 48 hours, but have held their weapons over the price so far, because they want around £ 70 million with at least £ 60 million in advance and the rest in add-ons.
It is the newest turn in the Saga, but Arsenal remains calm and deals can often last longer periods, because it will be a difficult transfer to complete.
Arsenal made enormous progress last weekend and knows that 27-year-old Gyokeres is determined to move to the Emirates and personal conditions will not be a problem.
But the sporty President Frederico Varandas is determined that there is no men's agreement with which he can leave – and they are determined to be attached to the price.
That is the big obstacle, but there is still a huge optimism that the deal for Gyokeres will be done to become the new No9 from Arsenal. Gyokeres makes it clear that he does not want to return to sport in a further distance, but conversations are seen as postponed instead of stuck.
The ex-Coventry and Brighton striker Gyokeres left English football to become a huge hit in Portugal, where he scored 97 goals in 102 performances. Arsenal believes that he can score the goals to be a hit in English football and they push hard to do business before they do their previous season.
They have announced Brentford's Christian Norgaard in a £ 12 million deal, they have concluded a deal about keeper Kepa Arizabalaga and talk to Chelsea after making a £ 40 million-plus for the noni Madueke of Chelsea.
Arsenal also has to bind Ethan Nwaneri, 18, who starts the last year of his contract, but wants to play time and the uncertainty around his future – where he fits perfectly with the Chelsea model – is a huge concern.