The Gunners had previously stepped away from pursuing Benjamin Sesko, discouraged by RB Leipzig’s firm stance on a valuation exceeding €90 million (£77.6 million). ..Continue Reading
Attention then shifted to Gyokeres, but Arsenal have faced similar pushback from the Portuguese club during negotiations.
Sporting are reportedly demanding €70 million (£60 million) in guaranteed fees, with an additional €10 million (£8.6 million) in performance-related bonuses.
Arsenal’s current proposal is said to include €65 million (£56 million) upfront, supplemented by €15 million (£12.9 million) in add-ons.
Meanwhile, the club’s pursuit of Noni Madueke for around £50 million—an unpopular move among some fans—has sparked debate, especially in light of the complications surrounding the Gyokeres deal.
Portuguese outlets had suggested the transfer talks were close to collapse, but The Mirror later reported that both sides agreed to pause discussions temporarily, with plans to resume shortly.
The pressure to secure a high-caliber striker is mounting among fans, but Arsenal are keen to avoid appearing as if they’re caving to inflated demands.
Similar challenges have arisen in negotiations with Brentford over Christian Norgaard and with Valencia regarding Cristhian Mosquera.
Each club has its own valuation strategy—West Ham, for instance, initially priced Declan Rice at £120 million before ultimately accepting Arsenal’s £105 million offer.
As talks for Madueke progress, Arsenal are working to structure the deal in their favor, echoing their approach with Kai Havertz.
Chelsea had originally asked for £70 million, but Arsenal successfully negotiated a lower fee.
Had the club accepted every asking price outright, it would have weakened their leverage in future negotiations.
Sporting director Andrea Berta is juggling multiple deals, with Mikel Arteta reportedly targeting three attacking additions this summer.
If Arsenal meet the full financial demands for two of those targets, securing the third could become significantly more difficult.
As such, the club continues to negotiate strategically to maintain its position in the market.
