Manchester United’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres is becoming increasingly complicated.
Ineos were always going to target a new number nine this summer, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres likely to be among the top priorities.
With a strong relationship between Manchester United and Sporting, a deal looked fairly simple, assuming all parties agreed. This was made even more likely when it emerged that Sporting had set a £63m asking price on their 97-goal striker.
However, the deal, which looked simple, has been made difficult with Sporting raising their asking price. Gyokeres has been left furious with Sporting after this, as he believes he had been promised that he could leave for cheap.
The Swede is losing patience as he feels disrespected by Sporting, now Gyokeres is threatening to go on strike, which is a lose-lose situation for the Portuguese champions and their star player.
The situation is turning sour, and now the Sporting president has had his say, adding fuel to the fire.
Photo by Valter Gouveia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Valter Gouveia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sporting CP president slams Viktor Gyokeres’ situation
It has been increasingly mentioned in recent days that United intend to try and sign Gyokeres this summer, although the raised asking price of potentially £70m is something that pushes a deal further from being feasible.
Now, speaking with Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Sporting president Frederico Varandas has broken his silence over the situation.
More United News
He explains that he and the club never promised Gyokeres that he could leave for a certain fee, but did guarantee one thing.
“There’s no point setting a value of €60 million (£50m). I don’t know if it’s going to be 40, 60, or 80. I don’t know, it will depend on the player’s performance. What can I guarantee? I will not demand 100 million euros. Period. That’s how the meeting ended. Who was at the meeting? President and agent. From then on, I never spoke to the agent again. I never spoke to the player about departures and values”, he continued.
“Months have passed. And now I see the agent in the press releasing information here and there, but there is one thing I want to make clear. Sporting has a good sense and its word. And the president of Sporting said two things: that Sporting would not demand the termination clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor’s performance”, he added.
“And what was Viktor’s performance this year? 63 goals, 17 assists, runner-up in the Golden Boot, six goals in eight Champions League games. Fantastic. Surely one of the best players to have stepped on the pitch in the history of Portuguese football. And even so, Sporting will not demand the release clause.
“They should know me better by now. Threats, blackmail, and insults don’t work with me. And I can guarantee one thing: Viktor will not leave for €60m plus €10m (£50m plus £8m). I never promised. With this game that the agent is playing, the situation is only getting worse. To date, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres. Not today, not last summer. Viktor Gyokeres is one of the best footballers in the history of Portuguese football. He is a fantastic professional. To date, he has had zero offers, and he has a three-year contract.”
This sounds very much like negotiating from Sporting, in an attempt to encourage United to come in with offers beyond the cut-price deal many thought was on the table.
Manchester United must avoid paying a premium for Gyokeres
Gyokeres is a freak goalscorer, with few in the world coming close to him, regardless of the weaker opposition that he has done it against.
97 goals over two seasons is a ridiculous tally, which shows him to be a huge upgrade on Rasmus Hojlund, who managed just 10 last season for United in 52 games.
If United manage to sign him, Gyokeres will be a hit with his catalogue of goals, showing he can do it all, not just physically. However, going beyond £60m for a striker from Portugal is always going to come with a massive risk for United.
If Sporting is asking for crazy numbers, then there are better options in the market, such as Jean-Philippe Mateta, who could cost half the price.
It is likely Sporting will end up accepting a fee in the middle, but Ineos must avoid setting themselves up for failure with an expensive risk.