Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres Transfer Stalls as Sporting Reveals Shocking Demands

Arsenal are reportedly haggling over just €2.5 million (£2.17 million, $2.9 million) in current talks to secure Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyökeres.

Following their third consecutive second-place Premier League finish, the Gunners have invested heavily this summer, acquiring Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard.

This expenditure is projected to surpass £120 million ($160.8 million) with Noni Madueke's pending transfer from Chelsea and the £17.3 million ($23.2 million) purchase of Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera yet to be finalized. Before even completing the Gyökeres transfer, spending will nearly reach £200 million ($268 million).

However, Gyökeres remains more distant from joining Arsenal than either Madueke or Mosquera. The complete transfer fee stands at €73.5 million (£63.6 million, $85.3 million), though the specific terms of one final bonus clause within that sum remain unresolved.

Portuguese publication Record indicates that determining what activates the remaining €2.5 million bonus represents the current obstacle.

Both sides seem satisfied with 97% of the arrangement. Within the total sum, €63.5 million (£55 million, $73.7 million) is guaranteed to Sporting while the €10 million (£8.7 million, $11.6 million) in bonuses is acceptably divided into four performance-based installments.

The initial bonus would activate if Gyökeres features in 20 matches during his debut Arsenal season, with an identical payment for repeating this in year two. Another €2.5 million relates to Champions League qualification. Record states that Sporting desires the final €2.5 million bonus to mirror the second 20-game requirement in the second season, becoming payable if Gyökeres reaches 40 Arsenal appearances during 2026–27. This is where the Gunners are resisting.

While Sporting seeks four readily attainable bonuses, Arsenal allegedly prefers linking that final payment to something more challenging. The report doesn't reveal any Arsenal proposals for alternative triggers, though major transfers commonly feature incentives tied to significant achievements like Premier League or Champions League victories, or even Ballon d'Or recognition.

This disagreement over €2.5 million connected to one performance clause is viewed as the sole remaining barrier preventing the deal's progression toward finalization.