Viktor Gyökeres - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has doubled down on the club’s firm valuation of star striker Viktor Gyokeres, denying claims of a pre-agreed discount and accusing the Swedish forward’s agent of attempting to pressure the club into a cut-price deal.
The transfer saga surrounding Gyokeres has intensified this week, with Arsenal leading a host of top European clubs eyeing a summer move for the prolific 27-year-old. Interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, and Juventus has also been reported, but the Gunners have emerged as frontrunners, having already met with the player’s agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, and reportedly submitted a formal offer.
Gyokeres has become one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers after a phenomenal season in Portugal, netting 54 goals in the 2024/25 campaign and 97 goals in just 102 appearances for Sporting since his 2023 move from Coventry City. His performances helped the Lisbon club secure a domestic league and cup double last term.
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However, reports have surfaced claiming there was a “gentleman’s agreement” between Sporting and Gyokeres’ representatives allowing him to leave for €60 million plus €10 million in bonuses, well below his €100 million (£85m) release clause. Portuguese newspaperRecord claimed the striker was “furious” with Sporting for backtracking on the alleged deal, and that he might refuse to train in an effort to force a transfer. Çetinkaya further fuelled tensions by insisting he had written proof of the agreement, according to Aftonbladet.
In a fiery rebuttal, Varandas denied any such arrangement and condemned the tactics being used. “One thing you should know is that threats, blackmail, and insults don’t work with me,” Varandas told Portuguese media. “I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised that. To date, Sporting has not received an offer for Viktor, neither today nor last season.”
Viktor Gyokeres - Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres (Image credit: Getty Images)
He added that while he previously assured Gyokeres’ agent, alongside then-sporting director Hugo Viana, now at Manchester City, that Sporting would not insist on the full €100m release clause, no fixed exit price was ever agreed. “I said it’s not worth setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year, it could be €40m, €60m, or €80m,” he explained.
Arsenal have reportedly submitted a €70 million offer including bonuses, along with a five-year contract offer for Gyokeres featuring a €12 million signing bonus and €7 million annual salary. But Sporting’s vice-president, Francisco Salgado Zenha, denied receiving any official bid and reiterated that the club will not accept anything below their valuation.
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Varandas’ remarks have sparked widespread reaction on social media, with fans and pundits debating whether Sporting’s tough stance will hold or if player power could eventually tip the scales. “Gyokeres’ agent claims written evidence of a €60m+€10m deal, but Varandas is holding firm. This could get messy,” one user posted on X. Another added, “Arsenal’s €70m bid shows they’re serious, but Sporting want closer to €80m.”
Gyokeres added fuel to the fire with a cryptic post on Instagram, writing: “There is a lot of talk at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.”
Varandas maintained that Sporting are in a strong negotiating position. “Viktor is one of the best footballers in Portuguese history, a fantastic professional, but he has zero offers,” he said, pointing to the player’s three-year contract and the club’s stable financial footing, buoyed by Champions League qualification.
For Arsenal, Gyokeres is seen as a key target to solve their long-standing search for a consistent No. 9. With their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko complicated by Saudi interest, the Gunners have shifted focus to the Swedish international. Sporting’s firm stance, however, and the agent-player tensions now playing out in public, could complicate what is shaping up to be one of the summer’s most dramatic transfer battles.
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