Report: Arsenal end Viktor Gyokeres talks after Sporting raise asking price | OneFootball

Report: Arsenal Pull Plug on Viktor Gyokeres Deal Amid Escalating Tensions

Arsenal’s long-running interest in Viktor Gyokeres appears to have hit a definitive roadblock, with reports from TeamTalk indicating the Gunners have now walked away from negotiations due to Sporting Lisbon’s inflexible stance on the Swedish striker’s valuation.

The 27-year-old frontman, who scored a staggering 97 goals in 102 appearances for the Primeira Liga champions, has been on the radar of several European heavyweights. Despite links to Manchester United and Juventus, it is Arsenal who have maintained the most concrete interest in Gyokeres, reportedly prioritising him ahead of other striker targets like Benjamin Sesko.

Photo IMAGO

Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla told The Italian Football Podcast:“I’ve known for a month that the first choice for Arsenal in the striker position is Gyokeres… Andrea Berta, the new Arsenal sporting director, prefers Gyokeres over Sesko. Many say that Sesko is the first choice of Arsenal. This is not the news I have. Gyokeres is Arsenal’s priority.”

However, that interest may no longer translate into action. Despite a prior belief that a gentleman’s agreement existed to allow Gyokeres to leave for €70 million, Sporting have since moved the goalposts. Reports now suggest the club is demanding a fee in the region of €100 million (£85 million), which has severely complicated any prospective deal.

Breakdown in relations raises transfer doubts

What began as a straightforward exit for a striker at the peak of his powers has quickly spiralled into a war of words. According to TeamTalk, Gyokeres now feels “betrayed” by his current club, with suggestions that Sporting have gone back on promises made to the player and his agent regarding an agreeable transfer fee.

His frustration has reportedly led to a refusal to attend a planned meeting intended to smooth relations. Sporting president Federico Varandas has since come out in forceful defence of the club’s stance, stating:“One thing you should already know is me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me. I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m+10m because I never promised him that. This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse.”

Varandas also attempted to clarify the timeline of negotiations, saying:“During the transfer window we realised that Viktor was going to stay at Sporting because we didn’t receive a single offer for him. When the season started, the agent approached Hugo Viana several times, asking if we could add an extra fee to the contract if he scored ‘x’ goals.”

The implication is clear: from Sporting’s view, there was never a formal or informal agreement in place to allow the striker to depart at a discounted fee.

Photo: IMAGO

Arsenal unwilling to meet steep demands

As things stand, Arsenal are said to be unwilling to pay more than an initial €55 million (£47 million) for Gyokeres, a figure well short of Sporting’s current valuation. That hardline stance is reportedly final, with Record noting that the North London club are refusing to budge from their position.

This brings into question whether any Premier League club will be willing to reach Sporting’s asking price, particularly with Gyokeres having made clear his preference for a move to Arsenal. Juventus are reportedly monitoring the situation but do not possess the financial clout to challenge Arsenal in a straight fight, making their interest largely contingent on the Gunners walking away.

It is now Sporting who must consider whether holding out for an unrealistic fee is the best strategic decision. As the summer window progresses, it remains to be seen if the Lisbon giants will backtrack on their position, especially if Gyokeres’ frustrations begin to spill into public displays of discontent.

For now, Arsenal’s focus may shift elsewhere, especially with Benjamin Sesko no longer available after his RB Leipzig contract renewal. That leaves the Gunners in need of alternative solutions in the forward line.

With Arsenal stepping back and United not yet firming up their interest, Gyokeres is in an awkward holding pattern. He remains an elite striker with remarkable numbers but now finds himself stuck in limbo at a club unwilling to meet him halfway.

His Instagram post adds fuel to the fire:“There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”

It suggests this is far from over. But unless Sporting Lisbon reconsider their valuation, the likelihood of Gyokeres securing his desired move to the Emirates seems increasingly remote.

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From an Arsenal fan perspective, this whole episode feels like a missed opportunity. Gyokeres has the kind of ruthless finishing and physical presence the Gunners have lacked since the days of peak Olivier Giroud. Watching him rack up 97 goals and 28 assists in just 102 appearances for Sporting only amplifies the frustration.

The belief that there was a gentleman’s agreement in place gives rise to genuine sympathy for the player. If a £60 million verbal pact existed, Sporting’s current demand of £85 million seems not only opportunistic but disrespectful to the player who fired them to domestic glory.

That said, Arsenal’s decision to walk away also makes sense from a financial standpoint. Mikel Arteta and Edu have worked hard to rebuild a sustainable wage and transfer structure. Overpaying, even for an elite-level striker, risks destabilising that balance.

Fans may now look to alternatives like Santiago Giménez or Victor Boniface, but none match the stylistic fit and pedigree Gyokeres offered. Unless Sporting backtrack, it feels like another case of a deal that should have happened, slipping through the net.