Sporting Lisbon have allegedly gone back on a gentlemen's agreement made between themselves and in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres, leaving the Scandinavian seething.
The former Coventry City and Brighton & Hove Albion man has likely played his final match in a green and white kit following an astonishing 54-goal campaign for the Portuguese giants in 2024-25.
Manchester United now appear to be at the head of the queue to capture Gyokeres, and it was reported on Monday that the Red Devils had made an initial approach for the 27-year-old.
Gyokeres's Sporting contract includes a release clause set at a reported €100m (£84.3m), although the belief is that the club agreed to let him depart for less this summer as a token of gratitude for his efforts.
However, Portuguese outlet Recordclaims that Sporting have now reneged on those terms and are no longer willing to let him go for the agreed fee of €60m (£50.6m) plus €10m (£8.4m) in add-ons.
Gyokeres 'furious' as Sporting raise asking price
Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres on November 30, 2024
Instead, the Portuguese giants supposedly now want to garner as much as €80m (£67.4m) for the Sweden international, which is still less than his nine-figure release clause.
Nevertheless, the latest developments have purportedly left Gyokeres 'furious', as he feels that club president Frederico Varandas is not respecting the deal they made during a meeting at the start of the season.
Sporting's decision to raise their demands was apparently taken after several enquiries were made about Gyokeres, and the club now feel that they can pocket a bit more money through the sale of their star striker.
However, the report adds that the Green-Whites have not yet received a formal bid for the Scandinavian, who still has another three years left to run on his deal at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Over the past two seasons, Gyokeres has registered an astounding 125 direct goal involvements in 102 matches for Sporting, scoring 97 of his own and providing 28 assists, while winning a Primeira Liga and Taca de Portugal double last season.
How will the Gyokeres situation play out?
Viktor Gyokeres pictured in action for Sporting Lisbon on November 30, 2024
If the reports are to be believed, Gyokeres's rage is understandable, but a scenario such as this is always the danger with a gentleman's agreement as opposed to a firm contract in writing.
The Harry Kane saga of 2021 involved a similar set of circumstances, where the England captain supposedly believed that he and Daniel Levy had such an understanding, one that was not honoured by the Spurs chairman.
Tottenham reportedly denied that such a gentleman's agreement was made and Kane remained at the club for two more years, but even with this change in price tag, Gyokeres's departure from Sporting still appears inevitable.
Man United would have likely always had to sell before they can buy, especially after splashing out £62.5m on Matheus Cunha, and that has not changed since Sporting reneged on the agreement.
Arsenal would be in a better place to bow to Sporting's new demands, but the Gunners appear to have made RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko their number one striker target.
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