Viktor Gyökeres news on Saturday was dominated by quotes, with a rather mild interview from the player himself, obviously recorded some days ago, and then a rather more strongly worded one from Sporting CP president Federico Varandas.
Saturday had been the third day the striker had been expected to return to Sporting after his summer break. The previous two dates, with the second being Friday 11th July, were delayed to try and save everyone the indignity of Gyökeres going AWOL.
The striker’s camp had told the Portuguese club that if an agreement to join Arsenal hadn’t been agreed in advance then the player wouldn’t be showing up.
Gyökeres’ camp believe they have a promise from Sporting to let the player leave for €60m, but that’s been denied by the club. There were multiple threats from those representing the player that proof would be released, including messages from Hugo Viana, then Sporting football director and now at Manchester City, promising such a thing.
That such proof hasn’t been released yet is perhaps revealing.
Record, who have amusingly dubbed yesterday G-Day, believe it’s all a bit too much and somewhat immature from the 27-year-old. However, that’s been the story of his camp’s response to the whole drama, whenever there’s been the choice between a laurel branch or a grenade, their natural reaction has been the latter.
Having left with the camp for their Algarve camp, Varandas said: “We are calm. Everything will be resolved with the closing of the transfer window, a heavy fine, and an apology to the group. If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we are very comfortable with that for the next three years.
“If the geniuses devising this strategy think this puts pressure on me to facilitate his departure, they are not only completely wrong, they’re making the player’s exit even more complicated. No one is above the club’s interests. Whoever he is.”
Varandas has a point there, it should have become clear a while back that Sporting won’t be bullied on this and that if such a strategy had been suggested to Arsenal then it’s one which needs rethinking.
The only leverage the player’s camp potentially had was proof about that €60m, so the longer goes by without that proof being provided – and it would have to be absolutely unequivocal and on behalf of the club – the easier it is to doubt it ever existed.
Sporting continue to want €70m plus €10m in bonus payments to take it to €80m. In a more amicable negotiation it’s quite possible they’d have accepted more of it in bonuses, and perhaps even agreed to Arsenal’s latest €65m plus €15m offer.
The player’s release clause is €100m, and Sporting believe they’re already giving a good discount on a player who scored 97 goals across the past two seasons.
The base price of €70m converts to £60m and when it’s considered what some other players have gone for this summer, then Sporting will feel justified sticking to their guns.
Record report they’ve been made aware the player’s agent is expected to speak publicly soon, something he perhaps should have done earlier rather than sharing his stance via newspapers.
The Portuguese newspaper also state there’s been no progress by Arsenal since that last €65m plus €10m attempt.
Over at O Jogo they report: ‘The tug-of-war is still ongoing, although the player believes he will be in London next week to begin work at the club where he has wanted to play from the outset, rejecting other options that arose. Arsenal has become an obsession for the striker, whose contract with the Lions expires in 2028.’
Should Arsenal truly want to get this done then returning to club-to-club talks is the best way for them to do so. More drama being added by the player’s camp isn’t helpful.