Gyokeres is eager to join. The Swedish striker even skipped Sporting’s preseason training to make his stance clear. His agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has apparently already waived his commission fee to smoothen the process. But even that hasn’t helped the talks move forward.

Gyökeres has made it abundantly clear that he has no desire to return to Sporting, having refused to report for pre-season, while Sporting president Frederico Varandas has insisted he is happy to fine Gyökeres and keep him at the club if Arsenal do not meet their demands.