DONE DEAL: Arsenal completes first summer transfer signing as superstar joined on four-years transfer deal- Deal signed and announcement will be made tomorrow
Arsenal are in the transfer market for a new striker after an underwhelming Premier League campaign.
The Gunners struggled to keep up with Liverpool in the title race last season. The lack of a genuine goalscorer meant the club finished 10 points behind the champions after playing out 14 draws.
Arsenal must find a new solution upfront. Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres appears the prime target.
The Gunners have now been handed a potential boost in the pursuit of the 27-year-old marksman, who has been described as ‘unstoppable‘ by One Football.
Earlier this week, Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas clarified that the club have no gentleman’s agreement to sell Gyokeres for £59 million, and he won’t entertain any blackmail from his agent.
However, A Bola now reveal Gyokeres’ representative Hakan Cetinkaya has a ‘sales mandate’ and would be due 10 percent of any rejected transfer offer of more than £51m for the striker.
Meanwhile, CNN Portugal add that it must be a fixed package of £51m without bonuses involved.
The clause is optional. If Gyokeres’ agent were to trigger it, Sporting CP could reportedly counter-attack and demand the player’s £85m release clause to sanction his departure.
Arsenal could land Gyokeres for £51m due to agent clause
Gyokeres had a sensational 2024/25 campaign with Sporting CP. He scored 54 goals and provided 13 assists from just 52 appearances in all competitions for the Portuguese champions.
The Swede has become a firm favourite among the fans, and he is one of their best-ever recruits. However, the player’s relationship with the club has recently soured due to the price tag.
Sporting CP reportedly want £68m for his services this summer, but the striker and agent believe he should be sold for much less. The ‘sales mandate’ could be a potential boost for Arsenal.
The Primeira Liga giants face the risk of paying more than £5.1m to the player’s representative for every rejected bid above £51m this summer. If they are adamant about their asking price, they stand to risk a huge financial loss if multiple offers are turned down.
Gyokeres has verbally informed the club that he won’t play for them again. Hence, Sporting CP would be better off parting ways with the striker and could accept his sale for a fixed fee of £51m.
Cetinkaya had a meeting with Arsenal on Wednesday. It suggests that the Gunners are open to pursuing Gyokeres’ signature, having made no progress in their pursuit of RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.
