Italian powerhouse ready to offload big names for Gunners' preferred striker

Juventus have reportedly joined Arsenal in the race to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, launching an aggressive internal clear-out in an effort to finance the deal.

The Serie A giants are said to be preparing a package worth around £68 million plus bonuses for the Swedish forward, as they attempt to meet Sporting’s €80 million valuation.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Bianconeri are looking to offload as many as eight players to raise funds, including Dusan Vlahovic and Douglas Luiz — both previously linked with Arsenal.

Despite Juventus’ interest, Gyokeres is reportedly still prioritising a move to north London.

Arsenal are understood to be his preferred destination, with the striker turning down interest from Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.

The Gunners made an initial offer worth £47 million plus £8.5 million in add-ons, and talks have resumed this week with a second bid expected soon.

Sporting remain defiant, and president Frederico Varandas has dismissed suggestions that Gyokeres can be signed for less than €80 million.

Tensions have escalated over an alleged ‘secret clause’ that would allow the striker to leave for €60 million plus €10 million.

Portuguese newspaper Record has accused Arsenal of colluding with the player’s agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, to exploit that clause — a claim Sporting strongly deny.

Varandas insists no such agreement exists and has vowed not to bow to pressure.

The saga has been further inflamed by claims that Sporting leaked Gyokeres’ medical records to complicate a transfer and by a clause entitling Cetinkaya to 10 percent of any offer above €60 million that is rejected.

Gyokeres has not commented publicly, beyond an Instagram story stating that “much of it [the speculation] is false” and promising to speak at the right time.

Juventus, meanwhile, are determined to rebuild under new head coach Igor Tudor and may sacrifice several high-profile names to land Gyokeres.

Vlahovic, Luiz, Arkadiusz Milik, Filip Kostic and Daniele Rugani are all reportedly up for sale.

However, even with funds available, it remains unclear whether Gyokeres would consider a move to a Juventus side that finished fourth in Serie A and have not won the title in five years.

For now, Arsenal remain firmly in pole position — but with the summer window only just warming up, the race is far from over.

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