Viktor Gyokeres has made a new push towards his transfer to Arsenal by moving out of his home in Lisbon.
Arsenal remain in negotiations with Sporting CP over a deal for the 27-year-old but the Portuguese club have been standing firm over the structure of the add-on payments.
It’s understood that Arsenal have offered a €63.5 million (£54.9m) up front, plus a further €10m (£8.6m) in add-ons.
Arsenal are then proposing €5m (£4.3m) and a further €5m in bonuses but Sporting are demanding €7.5m (£6.4m) as the first add-on payment, meaning there’s a €2.5m (£2.1m) gap holding up the process.
After weeks of negotiations involving Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, and his counterpart at Sporting, Bernardo Palmeiro, the Gunners have been keen to reach an agreement before Mikel Arteta’s squad leave London for their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday.
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Gyokeres, meanwhile, has refused to report back to pre-season training with Sporting and has effectively gone on strike in order to force through his move to Arsenal.
The Sweden international is currently in Stockholm while CNN Portugal obtained pictures of a removal van outside Gyokeres’ home in Lisbon on Thursday.
The network reported that Gyokeres’ friend had travelled from Sweden to oversee the removal of his remaining belongings at his home.
Meanwhile, Gyokeres has been heavily criticised in Portugal over his refusal to return to training when an agreement has not been reached between Sporting and Arsenal.
‘Gyokeres is showing the world that he’s a bad professional,’ said Record director Bernardo Ribeiro.
‘Throwing a tantrum by not showing up when he has a contract and is paid on time.’
Meanwhile, CNN Portugal’s Bruno Andrade warned Gyokeres about linking up with Arsenal before an agreement is reached with Sporting.
‘If Gyokeres travels with Arsenal without the deal done, it’s a mistake and stupidity,’ Andrade said.
‘It is not only a mistake but also stupidity because legally, later he will suffer the consequences.
‘When he already knows the process will be finalised he can travel. And then it’s okay. Sporting wins, Arsenal wins and, mainly, the player wins.’
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