The president of Sporting CP has revealed why they will refuse to sell Manchester United and Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres below their valuation.
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Gyokeres hoping for Premier League moveSporting holding firm on asking priceMan Utd and Arsenal both interestedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Gyokeres is holding out for a transfer to the Premier League after two seasons of impressive goalscoring with Sporting in Portugal. United and Arsenal are both said to be coveting the Swedish striker, but his club are holding out for a large fee after he netted 52 goals in all competitions during the 2024-25 season.
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Gyokeres has reportedly threatened to go on strike to secure the transfer he desires but has been allowed to return to pre-season training a week later than his team-mates. Sporting are thought to want £68 million (€79.6m/$92m) to allow the 27-year-old to leave and president Frederico Varandas has now admitted they do not plan to facilitate a transfer for Gyokeres for less than their valuation.
WHAT SPORTING CP'S PRESIDENT SAID
Varandas told : "Sporting is very calm regarding Viktor Gyokeres. Sporting does not need to sell him, but we remain sensitive to the dreams of Viktor and any of our athletes.
"After weeks of meetings, we are not asking for the release clause and will be reasonable regarding the price we ask for Viktor. Today, I believe there is a strong probability he will leave.
"We have been watching the market and I saw [Martin] Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, leave for €65million. I saw Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, both forwards but who, in my opinion, do not have Viktor's market value or quality, being negotiated for around €75million.
"Given the demands we consider fair, I believe Viktor could leave – unless he has the worst agent in the world, which is hard for me to believe, because he is one of the best footballers in the world."
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Explaining his club's stance, Varandas added: "The player knows, the agent knows, and I can guarantee, with absolute certainty, that Viktor will not leave for €60million plus €10million in add-ons.
"It's not about trying to gain something, it's that he simply will not leave for that – absolutely will not."
