ARSENAL are £4.3million away from Sporting Lisbon’s asking price for Viktor Gyokeres.
Both clubs remain locked in negotiations and it looks increasingly likely that Mikel Arteta will land the Swedish international striker.
Sporting are demanding a total of £68.9m (€80m) which is £60.3m up front with £8.6m in add-ons.
Currently, Arsenal have indicated they are prepared to pay £56m up front and £8.6m in add-ons, which is a total of £64.6m.
But it seems certain that eventually, the Londoners will end up paying the £68.9m which Sporting want for a player they signed for just £20m from Coventry two years ago.
Arsenal’s players all officially report for training on Tuesday although some stars are expected to arrive early today.
Ideally, Arteta would like Gyokeres at the club before Arsenal head to Singapore for their pre-season tour on July 19.
With Manchester United and Juventus also interested in the forward, it would be a huge coup for Arsenal and a major title boost if they land the 27-year-old.
Gyokeres is desperate to sign for the North London club and has told Sporting he will not report for training on Friday or play for the club again.
He is also angry that they backtracked on a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that he could leave the club for just £60m.
The Gunners had been weighing up a move for either Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Reports suggest that Arsenal have already agreed personal terms over a five-year deal with Gyokeres, but they are now trying to negotiate a fee with Sporting.
Sporting have given Gyokeres extra time away from pre-season training to complete a deal, telling him he does not have to report for training until Friday.
However, SunSport understand that the forward is insisting he will not appear anyway because he is so angry over the transfer saga.
Martin Zubimendi, 26, has arrived at the Emirates on a five-year-deal – the Gunners’ second capture of the summer after spending £5m on Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
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