Arsenal are still trying to get a blockbuster deal for Viktor Gyokeres over the line and remain locked in talks with Sporting Lisbon over a transfer fee for the striker
Viktor Gyokeres has dropped the biggest hint yet that his dream move to Arsenal is finally on the cusp of completion - by getting a friend to empty his house in Portugal.
The Sporting Lisbon star, 27, has emerged as the Gunners' top striker target. And Gyokeres is eager to move to the Premier League and link up with Mikel Arteta's side despite interest from elsewhere this summer, including Juventus, Manchester United and clubs in the Saudi Pro League.
Arsenal and Sporting have been locked in talks as they try to thrash out a deal for the Sweden international.
And while an agreement is now understood to be close, Gyokeres already seems to be preparing for the big move.
A removal van was shown outside what its claimed is Gyokeres home in Portugal by CNN on Thursday. Record have confirmed the authenticity of the images and that the striker authorised a friend to oversee the process.
The report says that all of Gyokeres' belongings, including his furniture, were removed from the property ahead of his potential move.
Gyokeres, though, is understood to still be in Stockholm as he awaits the green light to travel to London and complete the formalities of a transfer to Arsenal.
The Gunners have tabled a fixed fee of €63.5 million (£55m) with a further €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons. Negotiations are now centred on the make-up of said add-ons, with Sporting pushing for €7.5m (£6.5m) of that total to be easily achievable.
Gyokeres refused to return to pre-season training with Sporting last week as talks continued between the two clubs over a transfer. Frederico Varandas, the Sporting president, confirmed plans to fine the striker.
"We're calm. Everything will be resolved with the closing of the market, a heavy fine, and an apology to the group," Varandas told the Lusa news agency last weekend. "If they (interested clubs) don't want to pay fair market value for Viktor, we are very comfortable with that for the next three years.
"If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to facilitate the exit, they are not only completely wrong but are also making the player's exit even more complicated.
"No one is above the club's interests, whoever they may be."