Arsenal have reportedly reached a major breakthrough in their pursuit of Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres, having agreed to personal terms with the player over a five-year contract.
The forward, who scored an astonishing 54 goals last season for Sporting CP, is now edging closer to sealing a move to the Emirates Stadium. The agreement between Gyökeres and Arsenal is said to include a weekly wage exceeding £200,000, reflecting the club’s confidence in his goal-scoring ability.
The next hurdle, however, lies in reaching a consensus with Sporting CP over the transfer fee. The Portuguese club is sticking firmly to their valuation, demanding a deal worth close to £70 million. They reportedly want a minimum of £60 million paid upfront, with the remainder structured through performance-based bonuses and add-ons.
Despite the negotiations still ongoing, optimism is growing within Arsenal’s camp that a deal can be completed soon. Gyökeres himself is reportedly eager for the transfer to materialize, believing there was a prior “gentleman’s agreement” in place allowing him to depart for £60 million.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has publicly denied the existence of any release clause, which has complicated talks. Nonetheless, both clubs appear motivated to conclude the deal, and signs are increasingly pointing toward Gyökeres taking the No. 9 shirt in North London.
This move is especially significant for Arsenal’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta, who is believed to be a strong advocate for Gyökeres. Berta has reportedly prioritized signing the former Brighton and Coventry striker over other options and is working closely with manager Mikel Arteta, who wants new arrivals in place before preseason preparations begin. Gyökeres has been in exceptional form in Portugal, netting 97 goals in 102 matches, making him one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
Still, some skepticism remains over whether his goal-scoring prowess will carry over to the Premier League. Arsenal were previously focused on signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, but after missing out on him again this summer, their attention fully shifted to Gyökeres.
Arsenal have been active in the transfer market, already completing a £51 million signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad. They’ve also brought in experienced goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and are in talks for Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard in a £15 million deal. Additionally, they are showing strong interest in Valencia center-back Cristhian Mosquera.
The club is also aiming to reinforce their attack by signing a top winger, with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo seen as a priority target. However, to fund all these potential signings, Arsenal may have to sell a key player. There has been notable interest from Saudi Arabian clubs in both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Meanwhile, Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who is thought to be available for transfer.
On the youth front, the club is also working to secure the future of 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri. With just one year remaining on his current contract and concerns about playing time, there are growing doubts about his long-term stay at Arsenal—especially with reports suggesting Chelsea may offer him a better fit for his development.
