“I really can’t stop crying,” Victor Gyokeres’ father said after a disheartening call from Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas regarding his son’s stalled transfer to Arsenal. He believes what is happening isn’t ordinary, suspecting broken promises or external influences.
Arsenal and Sporting have agreed on a fee of £54.8m plus £8.6m in add-ons, but payment structure disagreements, solidarity payments, and Sporting’s insistence on a €100m release clause have stalled finalisation. Sporting had previously made a verbal promise to sell for €60m.
Gyokeres missed Arsenal’s pre-season Asia tour as the deal remains incomplete. So far, only Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Norgaard have joined the Gunners.
Earlier, Gyokeres told L’Équipe, “It’s one of the biggest leagues… You haven’t seen the best of Gyokeres yet.”
