Sporting Lisbon have dropped the biggest hint yet that Viktor Gyokeres could be sold this summer after paying to reduce Coventry City's sell-on clause.
The Sweden international, 26, is being courted by a host of top European clubs, including Arsenal, after enjoying a remarkable maiden season with the Portuguese giants.
Gyokeres plundered 43 goals in 50 games for Sporting last season after leaving Coventry in a deal worth £20million. The Championship outfit inserted a sell-on clause into the deal during negotiations - but the amount of said clause has now reportedly been reduced.
As revealed by Sport, Sporting have paid a sum of €2m (£1.7m) to take Coventry's 15 per cent sell on clause down to just 10 per cent - a move which could seriously pay off in the coming weeks.
With Gyokeres continuing to attract interest, the striker is not expected to be leave for less than €100m (£86m) due to a release clause written into his contract.
Any deal would have seen Coventry net a tidy sum. And while they will still rake in a portion of any deal if Gyokeres were to move on before next month's transfer deadline, Sporting will now keep a higher proportion of the fee - which will see them loosen their resistance when it comes to the terms they want, because they don't have to pay so much back to the Midlands club.
Arsenal are one of the teams who have been monitoring Gyokeres but it remains to be seen if they will firm up their interest in the striker after missing out on a deal for top target Benjamin Sesko, who signed a new contract with Red Bull Leipzig.
Scouts from Arsenal were reportedly watching Gyokeres earlier this week during Sporting's 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao ahead of the new Premier League campaign. The striker is under contract until 2028 after signing a long-term deal with the Portuguese outfit last summer.
Mikel Arteta is known to be in the market for attacking reinforcements and the club are expected to step up their efforts in the market after signing Riccardo Calafiori.
Spain star Nico Williams is another player of interest to Arsenal. However, it emerged earlier this week that the Euro 2024 winner would like to stay at Athletic Bilbao despite transfer interest from the Gunners and Barcelona. Arsenal are also admirers of his international team-mate, Mikel Merino, who is thought to be open to a move.