Arsenal are set to win the race for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres with a huge offer for the Sweden hitman.
New sporting director Andrea Berta has cooled interest in RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko to focus on Gyokeres and is now prepared to make a bid worth over €135 million to secure the services of the prolific 26-year-old’s No.9, Correio Da Manha confirms.
Although the Gunners are set to pay less than Gyokeres’ €100m release clause, they are ready to offer a five-year contract worth €11.5 million per year for the forward. This means the striker can look forward to a deal worth €57.5m at the Emirates Stadium.
On top of this, Arsenal will have to pay between €75-80m to Sporting in order to prise the striker away from Lisbon.
As such, Gyokeres is likely to make the top three most expensive Arsenal signings ever, falling in behind Declan Rice (€117m) and Nicolas Pepe (€80m).
The total value of the deal will land somewhere in the region of €135m once the player’s wages are included. This helps to underline what a sizeable investment Gyokeres will be for the Emirates club.
Arsenal to get a further Gyokeres discount – Romano
Fabrizio Romano believes that Arsenal could do a deal for a cheaper price than this.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the football transfer news reporter said: “Gyokeres, after a pact he has with the president of Sporting, could be available for something like €65-70m, including bonuses. But we need to see the structure of the package, how it works in terms of payment terms.
“He could be an option for Manchester United – he’s appreciated by Ruben Amorim – but it’s not a done deal. It’s an open story for several clubs, including Arsenal, who also appreciate the player. New sporting director Andrea Berta likes Gyokeres, who was a player he tracked last summer for Atletico Madrid.
“Gyokeres will, for sure, be leaving Sporting this summer. Forget about him staying. It’ll soon be time to make a decision.”
