DONE DEAL: Arsenal fans are celebrating as the club has officially snatched Chelsea and Liverpool’s top summer transfer target. The £90 million Brazilian has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal. Rival clubs are upset about the move.
Viktor Gyokeres is now considered on strike at Sporting to force his move to Arsenal.
The Athletic report that the striker is due to report to training on Friday, July 11, after being given an extended break by the Portuguese champions amid ongoing talks about his future.
However, he did not show and has now reportedly been told he must join the rest of the squad on Saturday, July 12.
Journalist Ben Jacobs reported on Saturday morning that today is a “key day in the Viktor Gyokeres saga
Portuguese outlet Record earlier this week reported that Gyokeres was expected to remain in Sweden,
where he has spent part of his off-season. That would risk disciplinary action from his current club.
It is claimed that Gyokeres believes Sporting have broken a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that he would be sold should a bid worth €60m (£51.8m) plus €10m (£8.6m) arrive this summer.
Arsenal have submitted a bid which surpasses that fee, but it was not accepted.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has denied any such agreement exists, and publicly insisted Gyokeres would not be sold for less than an €80m (£68.6m) transfer fee.
Gyokeres has reportedly told Varandas that he will never play for Sporting again.
Arsenal sporting director, Andrea Berta, travelled to Lisbon last week for face-to-face talks, but left without an agreement over a fee. It is understood that Gyokeres has already agreed personal terms on a five-year deal.
Standard Sport reported this week that, both clubs had hoped to reach an agreement over a transfer fee before the end of the week.
Sporting’s hand is somewhat weakened by Gyokeres’ desire to only join Arsenal this summer, so interested rivals such as Manchester United and Juventus have been put off creating a bidding war.
