Sporting CP’s president has said there is a “strong probability” Viktor Gyokeres is sold this summer and the club will “give in” to an offer below his €100million (£85.4m, $117.2m) release clause.
Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 games in 2024-25 for the Portuguese club and is under consideration from Arsenal in their efforts to sign a No 9 this summer.
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The 27-year-old Sweden international’s preference is to play for a team in the Champions League, although Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim remains a major admirer having worked together at Sporting before the Portuguese departed last winter.
Frederico Varandas insists his club are “very calm” about the striker’s future and insisted they have no financial need to sell their prized asset, whom the president describes as “one of the world’s best players”.
The Sporting president said both Gyokeres and his agent have been informed by Sporting of what their valuation is.
When speaking in an interview with O Jogo of what he considered to be a fair market value for the Sweden international, the Sporting president cited United paying the £62.5m (€73.2m) release clause to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
United have also had a second bid for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, comprised of £55m upfront and £7.5m of bonuses, rejected by the west London club.
“These players do not have the market value or the quality of Viktor, in my opinion,” Varandas said.
“They (Cunha and Mbeumo) are being negotiated for values of around €75m. We are sensitive to Viktor’s dreams or that of any players.
“Today I think there is a strong probability that he (Gyokeres) will leave.”
Varandas added: “I can guarantee, with absolute certainty, that Viktor will not leave for €60m plus €10m.”
Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in 102 games since moving to Sporting from Coventry City in 2023. He helped them lift the Primeira Liga title last year and win a league and cup double this time around.
He scored only one goal for Brighton & Hove Albion before departing on loan to both Swansea City and later Coventry. Coventry made the move permanent in 2021 and he went on to score 43 times in 117 games. The Swede joined Sporting for a club-record fee in July 2023, signing a five-year contract.
(FILIPE AMORIM/AFP via Getty Images)
Colin Millar is a Staff Writer for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Colin was European Football writer at Mirror Football. From Belfast, he is the author of The Frying Pan of Spain: Sevilla vs Real Betis, Spain’s Hottest Football Rivalry, and he can be found on Twitter/X: @Millar_Colin Follow Colin on Twitter @Millar_Colin
‘Strong probability’ Viktor Gyokeres is sold below €100m clause, says Sporting CP president – The New York Times
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