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Viktor Gyökeres is set to return to preseason training with Sporting on Monday, having been given an extra week off by the Portuguese club.

The official reason was that he’d participated in Sweden’s international break just after the end of the season, but in reality he pulled out of the squad with a minor injury, went partying in Stockholm with Alexander Isak, and started his holidays early.

An impending transfer and Gyökeres’ desire to join Arsenal this summer were the likelier reasons, especially given the ongoing drama between the striker, his agent, and Sporting.

Arsenal continue to be the major club linked and it’s not thought that Gyökeres has given up his plan to sign for the Gunners just yet. Saturday’s edition of O Jogo has a headline reading ‘Arsenal prepares decisive attack’.

That, however, is largely based on assumption that surely they must make another effort soon, and also on claims from England.

Saturday’s A Bola explains how Arsenal could structure a deal, similar to what we explained (see below) a few days ago: ‘If someone comes to Sporting’s management with 80m, they can take the player anyway; if, for example, they only have 70m right away, then they can try to reach the target by including realistic bonuses that allow Sporting to have some security that in the end they will sell the Swedish international’s pass for the amount they considered fair this summer.’

As long as Sporting have that headline €80m figure and are offered bonuses which aren’t wild then it’ll likely be accepted, as we explained below a few days ago. Arsenal would do well to follow the example set by Manchester United when they signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting.

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