Gyokeres issues transfer demand to Arsenal as Sporting saga takes twist

Viktor Gyokeres has said that he wants to play for a club that "really wants him" as bitter feud with Sporting Lisbon over stalled Arsenal move deepens

Viktor Gyokeres has provided a coy response about what his future holds - with Arsenal's top target claiming his priority is to play for a club that appreciates him.

Gyokeres was expected to not report for pre-season training at Sporting Lisbon on Saturday as his row with club chiefs refusing to budge on their asking price turns increasingly bitter.

And while the feud rumbles on with the Gunners waiting in the wings, France Football have published a lengthy interview with the prolific goalkeepers.

The interview was conducted more than a week ago, however, with the Sweden star saying: "The future? That's football, you never know. I'm not thinking about that [leaving], we'll see what happens. If something is meant to happen, it will.

"The most important thing for me is to play for a club that really wants me.'Gyokeres appears to be following through on a promise made earlier this summer that he will not play for the Portuguese club again. He insists a gentleman's agreement has been in place that would allow him to leave - which Sporting have strongly denied.

Earlier this week Record reported that a €5m (£4.3m) gap remains between the clubs following two days of negotiations. Arsenal are offering a package of €65m (£56m) plus future payments of €5m and €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons. However, Sporting are demanding €70m (£60m) up front and are unwilling to budge.

While the relationship between player and club has become bitter, Arsenal and Sporting remain keen to return to the negotiating table with hope of a deal being finally agreed.

Arsenal are back in training and have five friendlies pencilled in, beginning with fixtures with AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore before facing Spurs in Hong Kong later this month. The Gunners then host Villarreal and Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup on August 5 and 9.

Arteta has already welcomed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as back-up to David Raya in a £5m deal with Chelsea, in addition to midfielders Martin Zubimendi, a £51m arrival from Real Sociedad, and Christian Norgaard, who has joined from Brentford for £12m, into his playing squad.

However some vocal Gunners fans have reacted furiously to the probability of Noni Madueke arriving from Chelsea in a big money switch as Arteta targets bolstering his options in wide areas.

Madueke's signing, which is likely to cost about £50m, has tempered talk of an audacious swoop for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, who appears to have fallen down the pecking order under their new head coach Xabi Alonso.

But Arsenal remain keen on bringing Eberechi Eze back to one of his boyhood clubs and the England international has a £68m release clause at FA Cup winner Crystal Palace.