Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has decided to forgo €2 million of his salary in order to accelerate his much-anticipated transfer to Arsenal, as the North London club move closer to finalising what is expected to be one of the biggest deals of the summer window.
According to reports from Portuguese outlet Record, Gyokeres has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to report for pre-season training with Sporting CP, underlining his determination and commitment to securing a move to the Premier League giants as soon as possible.
The 26-year-old Swedish international has reportedly grown frustrated by the lengthy negotiations between the two clubs, which have dragged on for several months mainly because Sporting were adamant about receiving the full €80 million release clause stipulated in Gyokeres’ contract.
Arsenal, who had previously shifted their focus away from RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko due to the striker's high wage and transfer demands, turned their attention fully to Gyokeres after Sesko decided to stay in Germany. With Mikel Arteta keen to add a proven goal scorer to strengthen his attacking options, Gyokeres emerged as the top target.
In an effort to help push the transfer through, Gyokeres made the significant personal sacrifice of waiving €2 million in salary — a decision that reportedly helped break the deadlock in negotiations and convince Sporting to soften their stance on the financial demands.
Gyokeres’ performances since joining Sporting from Coventry City have been nothing short of phenomenal. The prolific striker has scored an impressive 68 goals and provided 17 assists in just 66 league appearances, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most feared forwards. His record also includes six goals in eight Champions League matches, further highlighting his quality on the biggest stage.
Once the transfer is officially completed, Gyokeres is expected to immediately join Arsenal’s pre-season preparations, where he will link up with new signings Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Swedish forward will also be part of Arsenal’s Asia tour, which will feature matches against AC Milan, Newcastle United, and fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Fans are eagerly awaiting Gyokeres' debut, and it is anticipated that he could make his competitive debut in Arsenal’s opening Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. This fixture carries an added layer of intrigue as Gyokeres might come up against his former coach, Ruben Amorim, who is currently linked with a move to Manchester United.
Gyokeres' strong desire to join Arsenal, coupled with his willingness to make financial sacrifices, has not only won over the club’s supporters but also demonstrated his deep commitment to playing in the Premier League and contributing to Arsenal’s ambitions next season.