According to Record, Viktor Gyökeres has informed Sporting CP that he will not play for the club again, regardless of whether his proposed move to Arsenal materialises.
The Swedish striker has reportedly told the club he will not report for training on Friday if the transfer is not completed, and is prepared to force a loan elsewhere to avoid playing for Sporting again.
GYÖKERES WITHOUT RETURN Swede hopes the deal with Arsenal is sealed in the next few hours but is already prepared for the worst. He does not want to return to the club and admits forcing a loan move at the close of the market Record8 Jul 2025 Not coming back Friday THERE IS INTEREST FROM FENERBAHCE ADMITS FORCING LOAN IF ARSENAL DEAL FALLS THROUGH FEAR THAT BRITS WILL GET TIRED AND GIVE UP EIGHT INTERNATIONALS UNDER RUI BORGES LIONS BELIEVE THERE WILL BE AGREEMENT BY THE END OF THE WEEK It's the end of the line for Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting. The next few hours will be decisive to determine the tone of the farewell but the latest events make it possible to anticipate this resolution of the player who, it should be remembered, has a contract with the Lions valid until 2028 and a termination clause of 100 million euros. In fact, according to information gathered by our newspaper, from sources close to the forward, the Swede has already decided that he will not play as a lion to the chest again, no matter what happens with his transfer process. If all goes well, from Gyökeres ' perspective, the 27-year-old Nordic will pursue his career at Arsenal, a club with which he has already drawn up a contract valid for the next 5 seasons, until 2030. If the deal with the English falls, and yesterday at the closing time of this edition the player's surroundings and himself still feared this scenario, then Gyökeres not only will not return to training on Friday, but he had indications to do if there is no understanding, IF THE TRANSFER TO ARSENAL FAILS, FENERBAHCE IS INTERESTED IN SECURING A LOAN as he admits to taking the arm-iron until the closing of the market and, in the limit, forcing a loan, all in order not to play for Sporting again. Still the messages This position of Gyökeres and his managers, in contrast to the tranquility in Alvalade [read on the next page], is related to Sporting's resistance to accept Arsenal's new proposal, presented on Sunday and which guarantees SAD leonina 65 million euros fixed, plus 5 M€ dependent on accessible goals (presence in games) and another 10 m€ in variables of more difficult realization (goals and titles). Frederico Varandas does not give up receiving 70 m€ fixed, a distance of ‘only’ 5 M€ but that fed this hard impasse throughout the day yesterday, to the point of leading Gyökeres and Hasan Çetinkaya to explore alternatives in case Arsenal fails, such as this loan scenario there more for the end of August. This is always based on the assumption that the spearhead is determined not to play for the green and white emblem again, as he feels hurt by the administration of Sporting, due to the dragging of the arm-iron, after two seasons in which he feels that he gave everything for the club and the fans. Hoping the deal is sealed in the next few hours, Vik fears the English will get tired of waiting, and the signs of wear and tear at Arsenal are evident by now. The chance for the Nordic to talk about the controversy gained strength yesterday and businessmen will be able to show Hugo Viana's messages, which date back to the beginning of last season and confirm the promise to let the player leave for 60 M€+10 m€. Like Osimhen? If the rope breaks for good, in a situation of rupture with Arsenal and linked to Sporting until 2028, Gyökeres can take the conflict to other levels and it is in this framework, Record knows, that the loan to another club enters, a kind of shock therapy for the malaise resulting from a possible failure to leave for the Emirates. A similar formula was used last season when Napoli were negotiating Osimhen with Chelsea but there was no green light, and the forward ended up on loan to Galatasaray. According to Record, Fenerbahçe is already positioned for this possibility, having shown interest in Gyökeres and sought to know conditions. This is a horizon that is still far away and may never become a reality, but it is being pondered behind the scenes. As much as a final rapprochement between Arsenal and Sporting seems within striking distance, Gyökeres is prepared for the worst.
Record 8 July 2025 – NO RETURN FOR GYÖKERES Swede hopes the deal with Arsenal is sealed in the next few hours but is already prepared for the worst…
Arsenal and the player have already agreed a five-year contract, but a deal between the clubs has yet to be finalised.
Arsenal’s latest offer, said to be worth £56.1m (€65m) up front, with a further £4.3m (€5m) in realistic add-ons and £8.6m (€10m) in harder-to-achieve bonuses, still falls short of Frederico Varandas’ demand for £69.1m (€80m) fixed.
According to Record, frustration is growing within Gyökeres’s camp, where there is concern that Arsenal may walk away from the deal if the stalemate persists. The striker’s representatives, including agent Hasan Çetinkaya, are reportedly considering legal options and may present messages from Hugo Viana which they claim prove Sporting promised to sell the player for £51.1m (€60m) plus bonuses.
SOLNA, SWEDEN: Viktor Gyokeres during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League C Group C1 match between Sweden and Slovakia at Strawberry Arena on November 16, 2024. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Gyökeres is under contract until 2028 but, according to Record, feels betrayed by Sporting’s stance after what he sees as two years of commitment to the club and supporters. Should the Arsenal move collapse, he is prepared to seek a loan exit before the window closes.
Record adds that Fenerbahçe have already expressed interest in taking Gyökeres on loan, drawing comparisons to last season’s situation with Victor Osimhen, who ended up at Galatasaray when his proposed move to Chelsea broke down.
While Sporting remain confident an agreement can be reached, Record makes clear that Gyökeres is losing patience and is not willing to be strung along. He hopes a deal is finalised in the ‘coming hours’, but is now actively preparing for the possibility of a fight with the Portuguese club if not.
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