Viktor Gyokeres’ famous girlfriend makes transfer promise as Arsenal chiefs ‘fly out’

Arsenal have reportedly ramped up their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres but the Sporting CP striker’s loved ones, including his famous girlfriend, have voiced their preference for him to remain in Portugal

Viktor Gyokeres’ actress girlfriend has promised to convince the striker to stay at Sporting CP this summer. That is despite reports elsewhere stating that Arsenal chiefs flew out to Lisbon over the weekend in an attempt to push ahead with their signing of the 26-year-old.

Gyokeres won and converted a crucial penalty during Sunday’s Taca de Portugal final against Benfica to send the game to extra-time, before Sporting defeated their bitter rivals 3-1. The Sweden international’s girlfriend, Ines Aguiar, was spotted in attendance wearing a Sporting jersey.

Aguiar, who hails from Lisbon herself, was at one point swarmed by fans and had to field questions about Gyokeres’ future. Portuguese outlet A Bola claims the social media influencer said in the viral social media clip that she “promises” to try to persuade her superstar boyfriend to stay with the club for a third season.

Correio da Manha on Tuesday reported, however, that Arsenal at the same time had sent representatives to Lisbon for talks with Gyokeres’ agent over a deal.

The report claims the Gunners presented the Portuguese champions with a bid worth €70million (£58.66m), while offering the forward a five-year contract worth €7m (£5.87m) per-year and a signing bonus of €12m (£10.06m).

Arsenal have been strongly linked with Gyokeres in recent months as they look to sign a clinical striker after a disappointing season where Mikel Arteta’s side clearly lacked firepower. While other targets such as Benjamin Sesko have also been reported as being on Arsenal’s radar, new sporting director Andrea Berta is understood to prefer the signing of Gyokeres.

With negotiations now said to be ramping up, it remains unclear whether Gyokeres himself is open to a move to north London. The forward, who has netted an astonishing 97 goals in 102 games over two seasons for Sporting, played coy when asked about the Arsenal links ahead of Sunday’s final – but did not rule out a move.

The former Coventry City and Brighton man was asked to choose between London and Lisbon by Portuguese publication A Bola in an attempt to bait him into revealing his summer transfer plans.

He responded: “I prefer Lisbon because I live here now. And yes, I like living here,” hinting that his future lies in the Portuguese capital, or merely that he’s reluctant to give anything away.

But it appears his loved ones are pushing for the Swede to stay put. Like his girlfriend, Gyokeres’ uncle, Chris, recently voiced his preference and claimed the family had decided in a meeting that he would not leave this summer.

Wearing a Sporting scarf and jersey on the same day that Gyokeres found the net to seal the Liga Portugal title for Sporting, Chris began by saying: “I’m super happy, this is amazing. We were here last year, it’s the same spirit, the same people, the same atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic! Beyond words!”

Chris said when questioned if they felt a connection to Sporting: “Yes, very much… yesterday at dinner we decided that he has to stay.”

And when asked whether Gyokeres will stay at the club this summer, he replied: “Yes, we think so.”

Those comments were later put to Gyokeres, who downplayed them by saying: “They [his family] really like Portugal; I think they want to be here and enjoy the city, the good weather, and all the atmosphere.

“But it’s football and that’s another thing. We’ll see what happens. Yes [I would like to win a third title with Sporting], but we’ll see. I don’t know what will happen in the summer… let’s see what happens.”

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