Viktor Gyokeres makes Arsenal transfer feelings clear after Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig statement

Arsenal have been given a major boost to their hopes of signing Viktor Gyokeres. The 27-year-old striker continues to be heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his frontline.

Gyokeres, who sees his contract at the Jose Alvalade Stadium expire in June 2028, featured 33 times in the Primeira Liga this season, scoring 39 goals while also providing eight assists. Playing an key role in Rui Borges’ team, he fired the Lions to their second successive title.

The Sweden international also helped Sporting win the Taça de Portugal, netting a late equaliser in a 3-1 win over Benfica. His impressive performances certainly haven’t gone unnoticed, attracting interest from lots of top clubs.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, as quoted by Sport Witness, negotiations between Sporting and Arsenal have been ‘frozen’ and there’s been ‘no contact for a week’. While this has left the door open for rivals clubs to swoop in, the report claims Gyokeres dreams of playing for the Gunners, and he’s willing to hold out for a transfer.

It’s said that Sporting’s former sporting director, Hugo Viana, who has since taken up a similar role at Manchester City, promised the Swede’s camp that he could leave the club for €70m (£59.8m). Record have reported that Arsenal were initially willing to pay €55m (£47m), plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons.

But, now, the Portuguese giants reportedly want €80m (£68.4m), throwing a spanner in the works. With Gyokeres desperate to join Arsenal, the newspaper claims that his agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, has an audio recording of Viana confirming the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to sanction a transfer.

football.london understands the Gunners are long admirers of the striker, with interest dating back to his spell at Coventry City in the Championship. Andrea Berta is thought to be a ‘big fan’, but – as things stand – Arsenal are yet to submit an official offer.

The report in Record follows a statement from Benjamin Sesko’s agent, Elivis Basanovic, who quashed rumours that RB Leipzig are under pressure to reduce their €80m-100m (£68m-£86m) price tag.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig,” he told GiveMeSport. “I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values.

“Values that you are bringing into a new club. I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests but no matter what, I believe in football world should be more respect.

“So that’s why we do things in the right way or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

football.london understands that Arsenal were interested in signing Sesko last year, but talks never reached an advanced stage. The 22-year-old striker wanted to resolve his future at Leipzig before Euro 2024, but the Gunners couldn’t commit to a deal with Eddie Nketiah still at the club.

By the time the Hale End graduate eventually left, Sesko had already penned a contract extension at the Red Bull Arena. Despite missing out, football.london understands that the north Londoners continued to monitor the Slovenian’s progress, and they remain keen on securing his signature – even if his stock has fallen a little.