Viktor Gyokeres has threatened to never play for Sporting Lisbon again if the club do not lower their high asking price for the Swede, according to reports, amid a messy potential exit.
Gyokeres has been the talk of the town this summer as several Premier League clubs look to bring in a striker ahead of the new season.
Both Manchester United and Arsenal are said to be leading the race to sign the 27-year-old – who appears desperate for a route out of Sporting – with both clubs in need of filling a gaping hole in their attacks.
The Swedish striker has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his Sporting contract, but prior to the campaign just gone, he was understood to have reached a gentleman’s agreement with the Portuguese champions over a reduced asking price.
Following positive discussions regarding his sale, he was assured he would be able to leave the Alvalade this summer if a club met €60m (£51m), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons.
However, it has been reported by Portuguese outlet Record, that Sporting’s board have made a U-turn and are now seeking a fee in the region of €80m (£67m), which is said to have infuriated Gyokeres to the point of threatening to strike.
Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly gone on strike at Sporting Lisbon to force a move away
Arsenal and Manchester united are among the clubs interested in signing the striker
The Swede has scored a frankly astonishing 97 goals in 102 matches while in Portugal
The striker is understood to be ‘furious’ with president Frederico Varandas, after discovering the news and has now told the club’s bosses that he will never pull the Sporting shirt on again.
Gyokeres has also removed any reference to Sporting on his Instagram account, having also got rid of any mention of Sweden and Nike.
He has three years remaining on his contract in Lisbon, but he is determined to take on a new challenge after just two years at the club, where he won the league twice, and completed a domestic double this campaign.
Rui Borges, Sporting manager, was asked about Gyokeres when attending an event on Tuesday to mark the 99th anniversary of provincial team Sport Clube de Mirandela – the club where his football journey began – but refused to give anything away.
‘Gyokeres? Sporting’s future begins on July 1st,’ Borges told reporters.
‘That’s all I can say and today I’m here to, above all, salute this tribute that was paid to me. That’s all. I’m on vacation, I’m not here to talk about that.’
Gyokeres, who joined from Championship side Coventry in 2023, has scored a frankly astonishing 97 goals in 102 matches, with 54 of those strikes coming in the season just passed at a rate of over one goal per game.
United are in contact with Sporting over the prolific Swedish striker and are ‘exploring the conditions’ of a potential deal.
Gyokeres drove Sporting to a domestic double this season and has won three trophies in total at Sporting, including two league titles
Sporting boss Rui Borges refused to give much away when asked about Gyokeres’ future
The 27-year-old has long been touted as United’s top transfer target, with the Swede having previously worked under Ruben Amorim at Sporting, but still face competition from the Gunners, while Serie A giants Juventus are also said to be interested.
The Red Devils have made initial contact with the Portuguese champions, but the financial impact of United’s failure to qualify for European football looked to have severely damaged their hopes of securing the striker if they continue to hike the price.
The Red Devils have already completed the £62.5m signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and they are also keen on Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo who has indicated that he would like to move to Old Trafford.
Cunha and Mbeumo could occupy the two No 10 roles in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, but he still wants a new forward to lead the line and is eyeing a reunion with Gyokeres after they worked together at Sporting.
