Viktor Gyokeres and Sporting CP currently look to be on bad terms, with the Swede still expected to depart in this summer’s transfer window.
Following on from a 54-goal season, it is no surprise that Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus and Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are all interested in acquiring his services.
There have been multiple varying reports on his asking price, even with an £84million (€100m) release clause in his contract and a gentlemen’s agreement between the two parties that allows him to depart for a suitable fee.
A seemingly official club response on his asking price has been provided, and it is seemingly very different to Gyokeres’ own beliefs. With all of that being said, football.london has rounded up the latest reports on Gyokeres’ future as transfer links ramp up.
Sporting CP chief comment
After all the conflicting reports, Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has given the clearest response possible to how much Gyokeres will cost.
“One thing is that you should already know me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me,” he said on Wednesday during an event at a museum in Leiria.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60+€10m (in add-ons) because I never promised him that. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
“It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the season, especially because he was going to be 27,” Varandas explained.
“We knew about Viktor’s dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense. We guaranteed that we would not demand €100m. Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word.
“The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor’s performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal.”
Gyokeres response and strike threat
Further reports in Portugal from Record have revealed how bad the situation has now got between Sporting and Gyokeres.
Their update states that he no longer wants to play for the club again due to broken promises, with his intentions now made clear to the club. Sources have, however, claimed that assurances over an exit being sanctioned for a fee as low as a set £50million were never made.
Their reports claims that Gyokeres is convinced he was told that, and he even favours going on strike over returning to the club for pre-season. He also could even interrupt his vacation in order to speak publicly on the matter.
This has all come after it was made clear that the striker was furious at the situation, so much so that he removed Sporting from his social media bios.
Gyokeres or Sesko dilemma
Alongside interest in Gyokeres, Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Talks over a transfer have taken place with the Slovenia international currently appearing as the priority.
However, a final decision from Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta is yet to be made with a number of different factors under consideration. Only then is an official offer likely to arrive.
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