Arsenal believe they should have signed Viktor Gyokeres by now after agreeing a deal with Sporting for their top striker target, yet the slow progress to completion has led to fears from some that the transfer may collapse at the last hurdle.
The ever-reliable David Ornstein confirmed on 13 July that an ‘agreement in principle’ had been reached with Sporting for a deal worth a guaranteed €63.5 million with an additional €10m in bonuses after the player’s agents waived fees to push the transfer through.
Yet three days later – seemingly an eternity in the transfer market – the deal has edged no closer to finalising, even though an agreement with Sporting was expected to be the biggest roadblock to progress. So what’s the delay?
Instead, the sticking point is believed to be the technicalities of the €10m bonus payments, with Sporting keen to ensure the total amount is easily achievable instead of speculative.
With Gyokeres effectively on strike, having not turned up for pre-season training, and the bulk of the deal agreed, the move seems an inevitable formality but the issue of the add-ons do need to be resolved if Arsenal wish to have their new striker before their first friendly in Singapore on 23 July.
What are the add-ons delaying Viktor Gyokeres from completing his move to Arsenal?
According to Portuguese outlet Record, there is an agreement for the €10m bonuses to be paid in four payments worth €2.5m, although Sporting’s preference is for them to arrive after 20 appearances, followed by another 20 games and then a further 20 in his second season, with the fourth amount coming through Champions League qualification.
Arsenal, however, want one of these payments to be more difficult to attain, with the Gunners knowing that 60 total games and Champions League qualification is perhaps the least they expect from their marquee striker signing.
The delay could be considered a last attempt at Sporting president Frederico Varandas to ensure his side get the best deal after his multiple public declarations that the Portuguese side would not be held to ransom by Arsenal or Gyokeres.
However, it is believed that the €2.5m roadblock could be resolved within a matter of hours, with neither side likely to pull the plug over the last detail, suggesting that Gyokeres may finally be getting his wish to play in the red of Arsenal starting in Asia next week.
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