Arsenal have reportedly reached a total agreement to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres – and a medical has been scheduled for the weekend.
According to The Athletic, the in-demand frontman will move to the Emirates for an initial €63.5million (£54.8m) plus €10m (£8.7m) in add-ons.
Gyokeres is said to have been given permission to jet out to England to complete his medical after several rounds of negotiations finally resulted in a compromise on Friday. His medical checks could take place as soon as tomorrow.
Mail Sport reported that he is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year contract.
He has been handed a shirt number steeped in Arsenal history: the famed No 14 famously worn by the club’s record goalscorer Thierry Henry.
An agreement in principle was struck earlier this week but recent talks focused on the exact make-up of the deak, including the inclusion of add-ons.
Arsenal have reached a total agreement to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon
Gyokeres was set on joining the Gunners and he will undergo his medical this weekend
Mikel Arteta prioritised the arrival of a new frontman after his side finished second last season
Gyokeres snubbed interest from Manchester United – and a reunion with Ruben Amorim – and was solely focused on sealing his switch to Arsenal, who swooped after he scored 54 goals in 52 matches for Sporting last season.
Mikel Arteta made the arrival of a new striker a priority after his side’s Premier League title challenge was derailed by long-term – and untimely – injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Arsenal without a recognised No 9 for much of the season.
Once again, the Gunners finished second behind champions Liverpool – a third consecutive campaign in which they were forced to settle for the runner-up spot.
Gyokeres first burst onto the scene at Coventry City after joining from Brighton in a deal worth around £1m. He then went on to move to Sporting for £17m in 2023.
There, he scored 97 goals and recorded 28 assists in his two seasons at the club, leading them to consecutive league titles and the Taca de Portugal last campaign.
Reports from Portugal in recent days claimed that United, now managed by Gyokeres’ former Sporting boss Amorim, had reignited their interest in the ace.
However, the manager’s treatment of former 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. Fresh terms were not forthcoming, though.
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.
Arsenal have been busy in the summer window, recruiting midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard from Real Sociedad and Brentford respectively. Forward Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga also joined from Chelsea.
Yesterday, the signing of talented young defender Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia was confirmed.
Arteta had bemoaned the club’s inability to supply him with more firepower in the January transfer window, but the financial backing has been strong for him in the first summer under new sporting director Andrea Berta, who replaced Edu.
Coventry’s quest for promotion to the Premier League will be boosted because they stand to receive a 10 per cent cut of Sporting’s profit on Gyokeres.
Arsenal are currently in Asia and beat AC Milan in their first pre-season runout. They will next face Newcastle in Singapore before playing Tottenham in Hong Kong.
