Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal transfer offer details emerge in stunning new claims

Arsenal have made a formal bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, it has been claimed. The 27-year-old has enjoyed another fine season at Sporting, scoring 54 goals in 52 matches across all competitions.

The Gunners want to sign a new No.9 and have placed Gyokeres near the top of their summer shopping list. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is another name in contention as the Gunners attempt to strengthen their forward department in the summer transfer window.

However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas revealed in a press conference on Wednesday that there had been no offers for the Sweden international. He added that there is no agreement for Gyokeres to leave for £59 million, despite the suggestion that a gentleman’s agreement is inserted into his contract.

“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said. “To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres – neither today nor last season.”

But now, Arsenal have made the first move in the race for Gyokeres. According to Portuguese outlet Maisfutebol, the Gunners’ bid is thought to be £51m with bonuses taking it higher. Record reports that the offer is £47m with £8.5m due in add-ons with the offer reportedly made on Wednesday afternoon.

It is claimed in Record that a meeting was held on the Spanish island of Menorca with Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta present alongside an Arsenal lawyer and Bernardo Palmeiro, Sporting’s director of football.

While Arsenal have lodged a proposal for Gyokeres, it’s reported that the amount is below what Sporting see as the ideal number and the Portuguese side are waiting a fee in the region of £68m.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are prepared to make an offer of £51m plus £8.5m in add-ons and compete alongside Arsenal for Gyokeres. However, that is also not expected to be enough for Sporting.

Mikel Arteta’s side may have scored the third-most goals in the Premier League last season (69), but failed to have a single player register double figures in the top flight. Arsenal’s lack of firepower in attack became a problem as the season progressed, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus suffering serious injuries in the winter.

But the Gunners are determined to strengthen their forward line and get one over the line for next season, with Gyokeres targeted after another impressive season in Portugal at Sporting.

Speaking last month, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha provided an update on his future and revealed the club are hoping to keep hold of him. He said: “He has three more years on his contract. At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract.

“I think the answer has been given. [Sporting’s transfer plans] won’t be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent.

“We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years… the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent.

“Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent.”