Viktor Gyokeres sees Sporting Lisbon take action after Arsenal transfer target's 'strike' threat

Sporting CP have taken the drastic move to DELAY Viktor Gyokeres' return to pre-season training after the striker's supposed threat to go on strike - as they close in on a deal to finally sell him to Arsenal.

The Gunners target has been embroiled in an explosive spat with Sporting president Frederico Varandas over his transfer fee. Mirror Football understands Gyokeres, whose team-mates return to training on Monday, has been told to stay away until Friday, as Sporting chiefs look to seal a deal with the Premier League club.

Now, while a contingent of Sporting's first-team stars will be conducting physical testing, Gyokeres will be waiting to see if the clubs can finally agree full terms over a move. The two clubs have been holding fresh talks over the weekend, with the belief that an agreement is close.

Gyokeres and his agent Hasan Cetinkaya made the strike threat after they believed the club reneged on an agreement to make the Sweden international available for £60million. Sporting president Frederico Varandas rejected the details of Cetinkaya's claim, with Gyokeres' anger said to stem from his belief that the Portuguese giants are demanding £67m - a figure still below his release clause, which will not be required to be met this summer.

Varandas has remained adamant Gyokeres will only be sold for a fair value and suggested: "Threats, blackmail and insults don't work with me." Though his star striker's delayed return indicates the situation is far from simple.

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While blasting Gyokeres' agent in a stunning statement last month, Varandas said there was yet to even be an offer on the table for the 50-goal striker. But there was an admission that a deal below his release clause would be facilitated in a bid to allow Gyokeres to chase Champions League football.

Since then, Gyokeres is said to have rebuffed two monster offers from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal and Al-Qadisiyah are noted to have made offers to the player worth £11m-a-year.

Gyokeres has snubbed all proposals with a move to the Premier League and Arsenal his preference. And now is waiting to see if the Gunners can strike a deal. Effectively, they've been given an extra four days to get the deal done by Sporting - before the Portuguese side demand he returns to training.

The north London side have long target a striker with Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko deemed to be club targets this summer to help Mikel Arteta's team go one better in the Premier League. Andrea Berta has been working on deals for both players and while Sesko was understood to be the club's top target, it has been Gyokeres with whom there has been the most consistent push in the last week.

Arsenal and Sporting are in 'advanced talks' and Gyokeres is believed to have already agreed a five-year deal with the Gunners to make the move to the Emirates.

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