Sporting CP would take a huge economic risk by trying to keep Viktor Gyokeres this summer, according to a financial expert.
The Swedish striker is among Europe’s most in-demand commodities due to his outrageous form in Portugal. This season, Gyokeres has scored a scarcely believable 43 goals in 43 games while also providing 11 assists.
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The expectation is for Gyokeres to leave Sporting CP this summer, with the Lisbon giants agreeing to sell him for a few below his €100 million release clause.
The 26-year-old has no shortage of suitors, but he also has some demands. He turns 27 in June and has no intention of joining a club outside of the Champions League at this stage of his career.
Arsenal’s interest in Gyokeres has increased since the appointment of Andrea Berta as sporting director, and FootballTransfers revealed on Saturday that his representatives will be at the Emirates on Tuesday. We also reported that he remains a priority target for Newcastle.
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Sporting must sell Gyokeres
However, Newcastle are not guaranteed Champions League football and Arsenal also have other targets, including someone like Benjamin Sesko, who may be better suited to Mikel Arteta’s style.
While a move to Arsenal appears realistic, with Berta pushing for him, it is not set in stone yet. It begs the question, then: could Gyokeres perhaps stay at Sporting? The answer to that question seems to be an emphatic ‘no!’
According to football agent and financial expert Guilherme von Cupper, Sporting trying to keep Gyokeres this summer would be foolish as they would forego a huge economic windfall.
Speaking to Portuguese outlet Record, Von Cupper insisted that a summer sale would be the best-case scenario for all involved. “It’s one thing to transfer Viktor Gyokeres in the summer when he turns 27 and another to transfer him the following summer when he turns 28,” he said.
“It makes a difference in terms of longevity. The market is increasingly competitive and, while it’s true that Gyokeres is a player who is performing above average, he’s also a player who has had some physical problems. His increased age, combined with these physical problems, could cause some distrust in a club capable of putting so much money on the table.”
“Gyokeres understands that the time to leave for a big European club is now, and Sporting understand that keeping him for another year would be fantastic in terms of sporting performance but would jeopardise a huge financial gain.”
