Arsenal’s pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres has hit a familiar wall: price. The Sporting Lisbon striker has emerged as the Gunners’ preferred choice to lead the line next season, but progress has slowed as the two clubs remain far apart on a final agreement.
Following failed approaches for Benjamin Šeško and Ollie Watkins, Arsenal shifted their focus to Gyökeres, whose prolific spell in Portugal has made him one of Europe’s most coveted forwards. Since joining Sporting from Coventry City, the Swedish international has racked up a staggering 97 goals in just 102 games across all competitions—numbers that naturally caught the eye of the Premier League’s elite.
With newly appointed sporting director Andrea Berta now steering Arsenal’s transfer strategy, there’s been a noticeable change in approach. Berta has made the striker position a priority, and Gyökeres fits the mold: powerful, mobile, and efficient in front of goal. However, the deal has proven anything but straightforward.
According to The Independent, talks have stalled due to a disagreement over the structure of the transfer fee. Arsenal’s proposal of €65 million upfront with €15 million in performance-based add-ons has been rebuffed by Sporting, who are insisting on €70 million guaranteed with no incentives attached. The Portuguese side appears to be leveraging their position firmly, despite earlier reports of a gentleman’s agreement between the club and player.
Interestingly, Gyökeres has already taken steps to facilitate the move, reportedly sacrificing a portion of his personal financial package to help push the deal over the line. He’s made it clear he sees Arsenal—and the Premier League—as the logical next step in his career. That personal ambition might become a decisive factor, as Sporting may find it increasingly difficult to keep a player eager to move.
This situation bears resemblance to Arsenal’s earlier pursuit of Šeško, where a similar financial gap caused talks to break down. But in this case, the mood within the Gyökeres camp is noticeably more urgent. There’s real tension between player and club, and that could eventually force Sporting’s hand.
Still, not everyone is convinced that Gyökeres would replicate his staggering goal numbers in England. Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, David Ornstein cautioned that the striker’s output is likely to dip once he makes the Premier League jump.
“People I speak to in Portugal and around the game, who have studied Gyökeres closely, say his volume may come down in the Premier League,” Ornstein explained. “But even if he goes from 50-plus goals to 15 or 20, that could be transformative for Arsenal—especially with the creative structure they already have in place.”
That perspective underscores the calculated risk Arsenal are weighing: spending big on a striker whose numbers may regress, but whose overall contribution could still be vital in a title-challenging campaign.
The Gunners remain optimistic, but time is ticking. If Arsenal truly believe Gyökeres is the missing piece in Mikel Arteta’s puzzle, they may need to dig a little deeper to get this one over the line.
