DONE DEAL: Arsenal announced double transfer signings as Viktor Gyokeres and other top quality attacker
Arsenal are likely to speed up the process of signing a marquee striker this month.
The Gunners travel for the pre-season tour of Asia on July 19, and manager Mikel Arteta ideally wants a solution before the squad embark on the trip.
Record (page 4) today claim that Sporting CP have postponed the return to training for Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede was initially asked to report on July 7, but has now been offered a four-day extension.
The club want him to return for pre-season on July 11 with Geovany Quenda and Conrad Harder, who were at the Under-21 Euros this summer.
However, Gyokeres has already informed president Frederico Varandas that he does not wish to return. He won’t be doing so on the 11th too.
Sporting have set an asking price of £69 million for the 27-year-old, but they are now willing to accept a small part of the transfer fee in bonuses.
Gyokeres turned down a move to Saudi club Al Qadsiah this week. He dreams of playing in the Premier League. It is claimed that Arsenal will ‘make an additional effort’ to convince Sporting.
Arsenal likely to speed up pursuit of Gyokeres
The Gunners have been linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Gyokeres for the centre-forward role.
The club have not made any progress in the pursuit of the former, and it has recently been claimed that they have made ‘some headway’ for Gyokeres instead.
Sporting director Andrea Berta is a big admirer of the former Coventry City man. He believes the Swede could have ‘an instant impact‘ for the Gunners next term.
Gyokeres scored a staggering 54 goals alongside 13 assists last season, but he will face a sterner challenge in the Premier League due to the higher intensity and physicality.
Despite this, Arsenal seem convinced about his credentials. Gyokeres scored six goals in the Champions League last season and thereby showed his immense progress at Sporting.
Arsenal have so far made an informal bid of £56 million including add-ons for the striker, as per Record.
Sporting want around £69m. They were initially eyeing a fixed package, but are now open to including bonuses, which should boost the Gunners’ prospects of signing Gyokeres.
