Arsenal fans are watching this transfer saga very closely because the club really needs to sign a new striker this summer and now the talks for Viktor Gyokeres have hit a wall Arsenal had been in Portugal for many days trying to agree a deal with Sporting CP but reports say they have come back to London without any agreement Sporting are being very tough they want all their money up front and they are refusing to change their stance Arsenal were willing to pay around £56 million upfront with more in add-ons but Sporting want £60 million or more paid right away they are tired of being seen as a selling club so they do not want to look weak this time this is causing frustration because Arsenal really want Gyokeres and the player himself is trying to help push the deal through he has even threatened to not come back for pre-season training with Sporting and he is ready to give up £1.2 million in bonuses just to make the move happen this shows how much he wants to come to Arsenal he thinks this is the right time to move to the Premier League and play for a big club fighting for trophies but even with all this the Portuguese club is not budging they have a figure in mind and they are not moving from it this has left Arsenal stuck for now
With the negotiations going nowhere Arsenal’s transfer chiefs have come home to London and they need to think about their next move they still want a top striker because Arteta has told the club that it is essential for next season they cannot afford to waste chances like they did last year Ian Wright said after the season ended that Arsenal would have been much closer to Liverpool if they had a real number nine who could finish off those big chances especially in tight games where they dominate the ball but fail to put teams away Arteta knows this he has seen games slip away because they did not have a killer in the box who could score even half chances that is why they want to get this right but now that Gyokeres is so difficult they have to consider other options
One option being talked about in Italy is Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus the big news is that Juventus might actually be willing to let him go for free which sounds crazy but it is because of their financial problems and his massive wages Juventus paid £67 million for him in 2022 but they have not been able to get him to sign a new contract and they want to get his salary off their books badly so much so that they are thinking about just cancelling his contract and letting him leave for nothing this would be a huge opportunity for Arsenal because they would not have to pay a transfer fee just negotiate wages with the player and get a proven striker for a bargain price
Reports say Vlahovic himself would be very happy to move to Arsenal if he gets the chance he likes the idea of playing in the Premier League he knows Arsenal are a big club and they play in the Champions League he would also be a good fit for Arteta’s style because he is a real number nine strong good in the air with a lethal left foot Micah Richards once said on BBC Radio Five Live that Vlahovic is ridiculous he said he is lightning fast and his left foot is like a wand Richards raved about how Vlahovic had 16 goals in 18 games that season showing just how dangerous he can be this is the kind of striker Arsenal are missing someone who can take the half chances and punish teams
It is not clear yet how serious Arsenal are about going for Vlahovic but the situation with Gyokeres might force them to look at it more closely because Arsenal cannot afford to wait forever they want to get their squad sorted early in the window so they can have a full preseason together that is one reason they pushed so hard for Gyokeres early they wanted him in and training with the team in July but if Sporting will not deal then Arsenal have to think about the alternatives and Vlahovic suddenly looks very interesting
The thing is Arteta has made it clear to the board that a new striker is a priority he knows they cannot keep relying on Gabriel Jesus who has struggled with injuries and finishing and while Kai Havertz did a good job last season he is not a natural striker they need someone who lives for scoring goals someone who can bully defenders and finish crosses and cutbacks and punish mistakes that is why fans are so desperate for this signing they have seen the team create chance after chance but not kill off games they know that with the right striker Arsenal can finally win the league again
There is also the issue of money Arsenal have spent big in recent windows they paid over £100 million for Declan Rice last summer and they might have to spend big again to strengthen the squad Arteta wants to compete on all fronts including the Champions League so they need depth but Financial Fair Play rules mean they cannot spend unlimited money so getting a player like Vlahovic for free would be very helpful they could then spend money in other positions like midfield or defence where they might also want to add competition
Of course nothing is guaranteed Juventus have not confirmed they will definitely cancel Vlahovic’s contract yet and other clubs might also want him if he becomes free Arsenal would have to move quickly and make him feel wanted but the fact that he wants the move is a big plus it makes negotiations easier if the player is pushing for the transfer Arsenal have seen before how much that can help a deal go through look at how Declan Rice made it clear he wanted Arsenal last year or how Gabriel Jesus chose them over other clubs
Meanwhile the Gyokeres situation remains in limbo Sporting are playing hardball and they have every right to they know Gyokeres is under contract they know he is one of the best strikers in Europe right now with a crazy goal record they want to show they will not be bullied in negotiations but this can only go on for so long the player is already angry and refusing to report for preseason if this drags on it could get ugly and Arsenal have to decide how long they want to wait they might still try again maybe offer more money or better terms or they might walk away and focus on other targets like Vlahovic or even someone else entirely
Fans are getting nervous because they know how important this signing is no one wants to see Arsenal start the season without a new striker in place the Premier League is so competitive now City Liverpool United Chelsea Tottenham all trying to improve Arsenal cannot stand still they have to be ruthless in the market that is why this summer is so important it is a test of the new sporting director Andrea Berta and of the club’s ambition they have shown before they will back Arteta but they need to get these deals right
For now the story continues Arsenal’s top people back in London Gyokeres deal stalled Vlahovic suddenly looking possible if Juventus cut him loose fans will keep refreshing social media waiting for news hoping for that big signing that will give them the firepower they need to finally win the Premier League again and show the world that Arsenal are back at the very top where they belong
