Viktor Gyokeres has taken to Instagram to post a cryptic message amid uncertainty about his future, with Arsenal and Man United among the interested clubs.
In a transfer saga that shows no signs of ending soon, the striker, who has an £84million release clause took to social media with a message on his story.
He wrote: ‘There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it false. I will speak when the time is right.’
On Wednesday, according to Record in Portugal, the Sporting president Frederico Varandas said: ‘One thing you should already know is me better. Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me.
‘I can guarantee that Viktor Gyökeres will not leave for €60m+10m (£51m+£8.5m) because I never promised him that.
‘This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyökeres, neither today nor last season.’
Viktor Gyokeres shared a cryptic message on Instagram as
Gyokeres had reportedly gone on strike at Sporting Lisbon to force a move away
Gyokeres was understood to have reached a gentleman’s agreement with the Portuguese champions over a reduced asking price earlier in the season.
Following positive discussions regarding his sale, he was assured he would be able to leave 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.
The club president’s very strong public response outlined Sporting’s stance.
He added: ‘It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27.
‘Then, we knew Viktor’s dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense.
Gyokeres’ Instagram post does little to provide clarity on the situation with his pledge to keep quiet until a later date.
‘We guaranteed that we would not demand 100 million. In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of 60 million, 70 million… And I said “there’s no point in setting a value” because I don’t know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season… There’s no point in setting a value, I don’t know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million’.
Arsenal and Manchester united are among the clubs interested in signing the striker
‘From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values. 10 months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word.
‘The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor’s performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal.’
Gyokeres has 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.
A Bola report that Gyokeres’ agent has been in London meeting with Arsenal and the Gunners, who are in the market for a striker, could make a move. That said, Benjamin Sesko is still understood to be their No 1 choice.
A reunion with Ruben Amorim could also be on the cards, with Mail Sport’s Simon Jones reporting that they are maintaining contact with officials at Old Trafford.
