Gyokeres has made it clear that this summer is his time to depart Lisbon in pursuit of fresh challenges and a higher standard of football. He netted 53 goals and provided 13 assists in 51 matches during the 2024/25 season, aiding Sporting in clinching the league and cup double, and believes he deserves some goodwill.
Sporting have given Gyokeres an additional week off before he is expected to report for pre-season, but Portuguese newspaper Record claim that he has no plans to turn up. The 27-year-old is exasperated with the situation and has personally informed Varandas that he feels let down and consequently won't cooperate. He has also threatened to go public with his side of the story.
Gyokeres has become the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Manchester United and Arsenal. With United now eyeing Bryan Mbeumo and Arsenal chasing RB Leipzig sensation Benjamin Sesko, there's been a distinct lull in the pursuit of late.
The stall in proceedings has left Gyokeres aggrieved, as the ex-Coventry talent is eager to clinch a deal sooner rather than later. Tensions have escalated at Sporting, and it appears that when Gyokeres departs, it will be amidst a tangle of contention, with Varandas standing his ground firmly.
"Sporting is calm regarding this matter," he asserted. "Secondly, Sporting does not need to sell Viktor Gyokeres. Fortunately, we have moved past the phase of selling our main asset.
"However, we remain sensitive to Viktor's dreams or those of any other athlete. Sporting has made a commitment that, after weeks of meetings, we will not demand the full amount of the clause; we will be reasonable regarding the amount requested for Viktor.
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"Today, there is a strong likelihood that he will leave. I won't disclose the amount, but the player knows what it is. I can say that Viktor will not leave for 60+10m. He won't leave, absolutely not.
"We have been watching the market and I saw [Martin] Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, leave for €65million. I saw Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both forwards but who, in my opinion, do not have Viktor's market value or quality, being negotiated for around €75million.
"Given the demands we consider fair, I believe Viktor could leave – unless he has the worst agent in the world, which is hard for me to believe, because he is one of the best footballers in the world."