Sporting CP v SL Benfica - League Cup 2025 - Final
Arsenal are leading the race to sign Sporting sensation Viktor Gyokeres (Picture: Getty)
Rui Borges insists Viktor Gyokeres is ‘happy’ at Sporting and will remain ‘very committed’ to the club if he stays put this summer.
Gyokeres has enjoyed another magnificent season in Lisbon to further cement his reputation as one of the most potent and revered goalscorers in European football.
The 26-year-old striker finished the Primeira Liga campaign with an extraordinary tally of 39 goals in 33 games to help Sporting successfully defend their league title.
This afternoon, Gyokeres will look to add the Portuguese Cup to his trophy collection in what could turn out to be his final match for Sporting against bitter rivals Benfica.
A host of top Premier League teams have been credited with a strong interest in Gyokeres, including Manchester United and Chelsea, with both sides on the hunt for attacking reinforcements.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
However, Arsenal have muscled their way to the front of the queue for Gyokeres’ signature and are preparing a bumper contract offer to lure the Sweden international to the Emirates.
‘He is very happy here,’ Sporting head coach Borges told reporters when asked for an update on Gyokeres on Saturday.
Sporting CP v Vitoria Guimaraes - Liga Portugal Betclic 2024/2025
The Swede’s goalscoring heroics helped Sporting defend their league title (Picture: Getty)
Sporting CP v Vitoria Guimaraes - Liga Portugal Betclic 2024/2025
Gyokeres remains ‘very happy’ at Sporting, says Borges (Picture: Getty)
‘He is very connected to the game, he wants to score and he is obsessed with it.
‘He is very focused on the final, he knows he had a great season.’
According to Borges, Gyokeres is the best striker in Europe based on current form.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
‘He is the best striker in Europe, as the numbers show,’ Borges added.
He will be attractive, but I believe that if he doesn’t leave Sporting, he will remain very committed to the club.
‘He feels very happy here.’
Sporting CP v Vitoria Guimaraes - Liga Portugal Betclic 2024/2025
Gyokeres is reportedly available for a fee of around £60m this summer (Picture: Getty)
Borges is confident Sporting will be able to keep hold of the main core of their squad for next season, though concedes the club are powerless to preventing some players from leaving.
‘I’m sure that a large part of the group will stay,’ he explained.
‘That has been the club’s policy in recent years and the achievements show it.
‘It’s difficult to guarantee because there are clauses and things that we can’t control, but I believe that, if not all, a large part of the squad will stay for next season.’
Gyokeres, who turns 27 next month, is said to be available for a fee of around £60million this summer.
The forward’s current contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade runs through to June 2028.
The Portuguese champions stand to make make a tidy profit on Gyokeres given they signed the attacker from Coventry City for a fee of just £16.7m two years ago.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Arsenal lining up ’emergency’ transfer move for player Mikel Arteta sold in 2020
MORE: Is Southampton vs Arsenal on TV today? Premier League final day team news
MORE: Why Brighton are giving Spurs a guard of honour on the Premier League final day