Arsenal get update on PRIORITY striker who has ‘fire in his boots’

Robin Bairner

• 9 Sept 2024 09:56 BST
• 4 min read

Arsenal’s quest to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has grown more complicated thanks to a move pulled by the Portuguese side.

FootballTransfers revealed in the spring Arsenal’s interest in Gyokeres was such that manager Mikel Arteta had made him the Gunners’ leading summer transfer priority.

Sporting had other ideas, demanding the Emirates side match the release fee of the striker in order to sign him. With this standing at €100 million, Arsenal shied away from the deal.

READ MORE: €40m striker confirms talks amid Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal interest

Arteta, though, was unsuccessful in landing another forward. Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen were among the targets that the Gunners looked at but were unable to sign, resulting in late transfer window interest in Gyokeres once again.

The Sweden international, meanwhile, has been in magnificent form for club and country so far this season, scoring 10 goals and creating five in those clashes.

Gyokeres hinted at his frustration at not being allowed to move to Arsenal during the international break, yet Sporting have moved to soothe that blow.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours

Gyokeres gets Sporting pay rise

According to Record, the striker “with fire in his boots” has been awarded a pay rise by the Portuguese side in recognition of his excellent form. All the other teams in his deal have remained untouched, meaning that the release clause remains the same while he is still under contract in Lisbon until 2028.

This is seen as a thank you to Gyokeres and recognition for his excellent form since arriving from Coventry in a deal worth €24 million little over 12 months ago.

Even if the 26-year-old striker, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €25.6m, harbours ambitions of playing at a higher level, this unexpected pay bump from his club should heal some of the wounds that were created when they demanded such a huge price from Arsenal earlier this year to sign their ace.

The Gunners’ interest in the striker seems to remain, however, but so too does Sporting’s recognition that he is an indispensable part of their team.