Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres is prepared to go on strike as he is 'convinced' that Sporting CP told him he can leave for £59million this summer. Gyokeres, 27, is one of the most sought-after attackers in world football after scoring 54 goals in 52 matches for Sporting during the 2024/25 season.
It had been reported that the Sweden international has gentlemen's agreement in place to leave Sporting for less than his £85m release clause, after he rejected transfer interest last summer. Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Al-Hilal and Juventus are among his potential suitors.
However, Sporting president Frederico Varandas revealed in a press conference on Wednesday that there is no agreement for Gyokeres to leave for £59m in the summer transfer window.
"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that," Varandas said. "To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres - neither today nor last season."
According to Record, Gyokeres is angered about the situation and won't return to Sporting for pre-season as he believes he has been 'disrespected'. It's added that Gyokeres would 'rather go on strike' and is willing to 'interrupt his vacation' to speak out about his situation and Sporting's agreement that was in place.
No club is said to have made a 'concrete approach' and it's understood that Arsenal are ahead in the race, even if they are working on a deal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
Although there hasn't been an official offer, Hasan Cetinkaya, his agent, is said to have told Sporting that Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus and Al-Hilal have 'expressed their intention to make offers' for the player.
Arsenal are in the market for a new No.9 and Gyokeres, alongside Sesko, is at the top of their shopping list. He has netted 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting since his £16.7m move from Coventry City in 2023.
Speaking earlier last month, Sporting vice-president Francisco Salgado Zenha provided an update on his future and revealed the club are hoping to keep hold of him. He said: "He has three more years on his contract. At the moment there are no offers, he has three more years on his contract.
"I think the answer has been given. [Sporting's transfer plans] won’t be any different from last year. We want to keep the best players and retain talent.
"We want to continue to be champions, have competitive teams and fight on all fronts. I have been in this role for seven years. In the years when Sporting were champions, we even made fewer sales than in other years... the fact that we are champions gives us a greater ability to retain players and talent.
"Coincidence or not, we have not had to sell any players in those times. Not that we have not received offers, but the market is not under our control, we are always dependent."
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