Arsenal Starts Pre-Season in Asia without Gyökeres
Arsenal have departed for their pre-season tour in Asia without Viktor Gyökeres, as negotiations with Sporting CP for the striker continue.
The North London team headed to Singapore on Saturday for the first stop of a two-week tour that will include friendlies against AC Milan and Newcastle United, before facing Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong.
Sources indicate that Arsenal hoped to have Gyökeres in the traveling squad, as negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Arsenal have agreed to pay an initial fee of around 63 million euros ($73.26 million), with around 10 million euros in add-ons, although the exact figures have not been finalized and the specific terms of how those add-ons will be activated are still being discussed.Almost all other Arsenal signings were part of the 30-man squad that headed to Asia, including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martín Zubimendi and Christian Nørgaard.
Noni Madueke, who moved from Chelsea on Friday for a fee of up to £52 million, was omitted after participating in the West London team’s victory in the Club World Cup in the United States.
Arsenal are also finalizing a deal of approximately £17 million with Valencia for Cristhian Mosquera, but the transfer has not been finalized and therefore is not part of the group that left London on Saturday.
The club’s 15-year-old prodigy, Max Dowman, is part of the group, but Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus is not, raising questions about his availability for the start of the season. Jesus underwent knee surgery in January.
