The future of prolific striker Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting CP is currently subject to considerable uncertainty. While a move to Arsenal in the English Premier League has been widely reported as a strong possibility, ongoing negotiations between the clubs have reached a difficult phase, leading the player to reportedly consider alternative options.
Reports emerging from both Portuguese and Spanish media outlets, including the newspaper Marca, indicate that the primary obstacle remains a significant disparity in the valuation of the player. Sporting`s president, Frederico Varandas, is reportedly insisting on a transfer fee of €70 million, potentially rising to €80-85 million with performance-related add-ons. This figure is higher than a previously discussed valuation around €60 million plus objectives, which Gyokeres and his representatives apparently understood to be the potential threshold for his departure.
Arsenal is understood to have made an offer in the region of €65 million guaranteed, plus €15 million in variables. However, Sporting has reportedly rejected this proposal, signaling their firm stance on the valuation. The director Andrea Berta reportedly travelled to Lisbon for discussions but left without a breakthrough due to the financial gap.
This impasse has, according to the reports, caused considerable frustration for Viktor Gyokeres. He is said to feel let down or even “betrayed” by the club`s current demands, perceiving them as a departure from prior understandings. Consequently, the Swedish international has reportedly made his position clear: he does not wish to remain at Sporting for the upcoming season and has no intention of wearing the team`s shirt again. One might observe that when a player feels a move promised at one price is suddenly only available at a significantly higher one, cordial relations tend to diminish rapidly.
Given the stalled progress with Arsenal, Gyokeres and his camp are reportedly formulating a “Plan B.” This contingency involves exploring the possibility of a loan move to another prominent European club, should a permanent transfer at Sporting`s asking price fail to materialise before the transfer window closes.
Several other clubs have been linked with the striker as potential destinations. José Mourinho`s Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Italian giants Juventus have both been mentioned in media speculation. While Juventus was at one point suggested to be in a strong position, reports now suggest that the club may face financial constraints limiting their ability to meet Sporting`s demands for a permanent deal, potentially making a loan option more appealing in that scenario.
Gyokeres himself has spoken out on his situation, breaking his previous silence in a forthcoming interview with France Football magazine. The full details of this interview are expected later this week, likely providing further insight into his perspective and intentions amidst this complex transfer saga.
As the transfer window continues, Viktor Gyokeres` future remains unresolved. While the desired move to Arsenal faces significant financial hurdles posed by Sporting, the player`s reported determination to leave means that, even if the Premier League move collapses, a departure from Lisbon, perhaps on loan, appears increasingly probable.
