Viktor Gyokeres' father has reportedly been left in tears after being informed the striker's move to Arsenal could fall through as Sporting Lisbon stand firm.
The North London club and the Portuguese champions have reached an impasse regarding bonus structures and instalment schedules, leaving the Swedish international's family deeply distressed about the potential collapse of the move.
Initial negotiations had progressed to a point where personal terms were settled on a five-year contract, with the transfer fee comprising £55million upfront plus £7.4million in additional payments.
However, fundamental differences over how and when these payments would be made have brought discussions to a standstill.
Getty
|Viktor Gyokeres' transfer saga is taking a toll on his family
The emotional toll on Gyokeres' family has been particularly severe, with reports from Portugal indicating that the player's father was brought to tears when learning about the potential breakdown of negotiations.
The 27-year-old striker's relatives believe their son merits a more fitting departure from Sporting after his exceptional contributions to the club.
JUST IN: Andy Farrell 'always knew' Tom Curry would 'deliver' as head coach reacts to Lions test victory
Adding to the uncertainty, Arsenal's most recent proposal has remained without response from Sporting for six days, as the Portuguese champions maintain their unwavering position on the financial terms.
The prolonged silence has reportedly led Gyokeres himself to withdraw from the prospect of joining the Gunners, further complicating what initially appeared to be a straightforward transfer.
The crux of the disagreement lies in Arsenal's reluctance to accommodate Sporting's demands for greater upfront payments, with the Gunners believing they have stretched their offer to its limits.
READ MORE: 'I'm a friend of Christian Horner, here's why Ferrari won't want him'
Reuters | Mikel Arteta is not getting an easy deal out of Sporting Lisbon
Sporting's position centres on ensuring that any performance-related bonuses are realistically attainable, expressing concerns that Arsenal's proposal relies excessively on future conditional payments.
The Portuguese champions are pressing for a larger proportion of the transfer fee to be paid immediately, rather than spread across multiple instalments.
Arsenal had aimed to finalise the transfer before departing for their Asian pre-season tour on Saturday, but the deadlock means any potential unveiling would now have to wait until their return in early August.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Gyokeres has established himself as one of Europe's most lethal finishers, finding the net 97 times in merely 102 matches for Sporting since his £20million arrival from Coventry in 2023.
Last season alone saw him register 54 goals across all competitions, whilst his trophy haul includes two Portuguese league titles and a domestic cup.
X | Sporting Lisbon fans have begun to showcase their annoyance with the striker
The Swedish international has previously expressed his ambition to prove himself in England's top division, describing it as "one of the biggest leagues in Europe" and viewing a return as "great revenge" after failing to make a single appearance during his time at Brighton.
His acquisition would address Arsenal's longstanding need for a proven goalscorer as they pursue their first league championship since 2003.