Sporting have given Viktor Gyokeres permission to delay his return to pre-season until Friday while talks advance over potential Arsenal move. That development suggests the deal should accelerate next week as Arsenal close in on the top-level striker they have been targeting.

Football.london's opinion on the latest Arsenal news and transfer gossip, including updates on Viktor Gyokeres and Rodrygo

Arsenal look set to solve their biggest squad deficiency as they are nearing a deal for striker Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, with the 27-year-old close to arriving from the Portuguese club.

It is not expected that the terms of the deal will see it break down completely, with Gyokeres almost certain to become an Arsenal player. However, Arsenal may miss manager Mikel Arteta's deadline of getting the deal done before the squad fly out to Singapore for their pre-season tour on Saturday,