On paper, it looked like a deal that would be done quickly.
Arsenal identified their man early.
The club made the trip to Portugal, prepared to land one of the most consistent strikers in Europe last season.
Viktor Gyokeres, the Swedish forward who starred at Sporting CP, was seen as the perfect addition.
Arsenal wanted someone who could add power, pressing, and goals.
They had watched him closely for months.
After early conversations, there was a growing belief that the transfer could be wrapped up in a matter of days.
The Gunners were ready to move quickly. Sporting, too, seemed open, at least at first.
But now, two days have passed without progress. Arsenal’s team is back in London.
The mood has changed. What once felt like a near-done deal has become a tense wait.
There is no public breakdown, no angry statements. The two clubs are still on speaking terms.
But there is one problem. And it is proving difficult to solve.
According to Record, the deal is stuck because of one small but key issue, the final price.
Arsenal have made an offer structured around performance.
Their bid includes €65 million upfront, plus €5 million in easy add-ons and €10 million in harder add-ons.
Sporting, on the other hand, want things simple. They are asking for a flat €70 million, with no add-ons.
This is not about bad relations or a sudden change of heart.
It is just a matter of numbers and who blinks first.
With pre-season fast approaching, Arsenal may return with an improved bid.
But for now, the Gyokeres deal is stuck in limbo. One small gap is stopping a big move.
Also, the Gunners have already agreed personal terms with Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international is desperate to join Mikel Arteta’s team and taking extreme measures to get the deal over the line.
It will be interesting see what will happen in the coming days in this Vikor Gyokores to Arsenal transfer saga.
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