Mansion Sports - Arsenal appears to have found the final piece in Mikel Arteta’s ambitious project to capture major silverware. 

After an extended and intense negotiation process, reports indicate that the North London club is on the verge of completing the signing of Viktor Gyökeres, the prolific striker from Sporting CP who delivered an outstanding performance last season.

According to The Athletic, a principle agreement has been reached between the two clubs. Arsenal is prepared to pay a fixed transfer fee of €63.5 million (approximately £54.8 million or $74.2 million), with additional bonuses amounting to €10 million (around £8.6 million or $11.7 million). T

his total package exceeds the initial expectations held by the player’s camp, which had previously anticipated a release at €60 million plus performance-based add-ons.

Internal Friction at Sporting CP

Sporting CP President Frederico Varandas reportedly encountered internal disagreements with Gyökeres concerning the club’s commitment to facilitating a summer transfer.

Gyökeres was under the impression that a verbal agreement had been made that would allow him to leave should a suitable offer be submitted. The recent proposal from Arsenal, which surpassed those earlier terms, has accelerated the finalization of the deal.

David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that Arsenal is now increasingly confident that the transfer will be announced imminently.

Gyökeres’ Personal Choice and Remarkable Scoring Record

The 27-year-old Swedish international made it explicitly clear that Arsenal was his preferred destination, turning down overtures from Manchester United and even a possible reunion with his former manager, Rúben Amorim.

Arsenal’s interest in Gyökeres emerged as early as March, particularly after the involvement of their newly appointed Sporting Director, Andrea Berta.

Gyökeres had a phenomenal season in the Portuguese league, netting 39 goals in 33 matches, making him the leading scorer across Europe in terms of raw goal count. 

Despite this, he was not awarded the European Golden Shoe due to the lower coefficient attributed to the Portuguese league compared to top leagues such as La Liga and the Premier League. The previous season, he also tallied 29 domestic league goals, establishing himself as one of the most consistent strikers in European football.

Arsenal’s Need for a Clinical Striker

Despite finishing second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal has fallen short in their title bids, with one glaring deficiency being their lack of a reliable, high-output center forward.

Arteta has experimented with various options including Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz, and even Mikel Merino, yet none have convincingly filled the role of a true goalscoring leader.

With Gyökeres’s arrival, the club hopes to solve its long-standing striker dilemma. Many observers believe this transfer could prove to be the decisive move that helps Arsenal secure their first major trophy since the era of Arsène Wenger.

A Strategic Component of Arsenal’s Transfer Overhaul

Should the move be finalized, Gyökeres would become Arsenal’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window. 

The Gunners have already secured the services of Martín Zubimendi, Christian Nørgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and are reportedly close to announcing Noni Madueke.

These acquisitions reflect Arsenal’s clear intent to restructure the squad in pursuit of perfection within Mikel Arteta’s long-term vision, which has steadily developed over the past three years. 

With a solid foundation now in place, the club is poised to convert consistency into championships.

As all the pieces begin to fall into place, Arsenal prepares to enter the new season with renewed belief—and with Gyökeres potentially leading the line, the club may finally be ready to complete their long journey back to glory.