Arsenal agree £63.5m transfer as Gyokeres refuses to return to pre-season camp

ARSENAL have FINALLY agreed a deal in principle to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon.

The Gunners will hand over £63.5million for the Swedish striker to sign on a five-year-deal.

The deal consists of an initial £54.9m up-front fee, plus £8.6m in add-ons, while the striker’s agent has waived his £1.7m bonus to force the move through.

Arsenal have reportedly made advances in negotiations this weekend in a bid to complete the transfer.

Gyokeres will become Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer window, with Kepa Arrizabalaga joining from Chelsea, Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

The club have also agreed a £52million deal for Stamford Bridge winger Noni Madueke, who left the Blues before their Club World Cup final on Sunday.

Arsenal were without a recognised No9 for much of last season as they finished second in the league, ten points behind champions Liverpool with 17 fewer goals scored.

Sporting's demands for Gyokeres were believed to be an initial fee of £60.4m, plus £8.6m in add-ons.

But Gyokeres refused to return to pre-season training with Sporting amid his desire to join the Premier League club.

The 27-year-old joined the Portuguese club in 2023 from Coventry City and has developed into one of Europe’s most in-demand players.

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Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta flew to Lisbon towards the end of last week to lead negotiations with the Portuguese champions.

While Gyokeres was thought to be hurt and angered by the situation after believing that Sporting have gone back on their supposed gentlemen's agreement to let him leave for a fair fee.

Just over the weekend, Varandas said Gyokeres was facing disciplinary action after failing to report for pre-season training.

Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games during last season's league title and cup double, has yet to publicly explain why he has not turned up for pre-season.

Varandas told Portuguese news agency Lusa that "no one is above the interests of the club".

Former Brighton and Coventry striker Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 matches during his two seasons in Portugal, firing Sporting to two league titles.

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Gyokeres' agreement will surely appease the fuming Arsenal fans who have been calling for an out-and-out striker for several years.

A group of Gooners even defaced murals depicting Mikel Arteta and other key club figures outside the Emirates Stadium over the last few days.

A row of banners underneath the Hornsey Tunnel in North London were vandalised with graffiti saying "ARTETA OUT" spread across the wall.

Gyokeres claimed this week that he is amongst the best strikers in world football, comparing himself the the likes of Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.