Viktor Gyokeres has told Sporting CP that he will not play for the club again.
The 27 year old had a gentleman’s agreement to leave the Lisbon club for €60 million (£50.8m) plus €10m in bonuses this summer, but it emerged yesterday that the club’s president Frederico Varandas had reneged on the deal and was asking for €80 million.
This has left the Manchester United target incensed and according to Portuguese outlet Record (today’s paper edition, page 8) he has now informed the club that he will not set foot inside the Alvalade again.
The outlet says that “The Swedish forward will not wear the Lions’ shirt again.
“Gyokeres verbally told the club this in the last few hours, as a result of the controversy around the gentleman’s agreement that has existed since September that he now understands is being disrespected.”
Record state that there has been no official response from the club but Varandas is expected to speak today at an inauguration of a museum extension in Leiria.
If there is no movement, Gyokeres is also prepared to “interrupt his holiday in Sweden and publicly voice his side of the story, something he has not done so far out of respect for the fans.”
The four clubs chasing the striker are Al-Hilal, Juventus, Arsenal and United, Record confirm.
Despite offering a whopping £570,000 per week contract, Al-Hilal are considered unlikely victors of the Viktor race as he wants to continue playing in Europe.
Serie A may not offer as much appeal as the Premier League and although they have been in talks, Juve’s hands could be tied to some extent by salary capping, leaving the Red Devils and the Gunners as the two frontrunners for Gyokeres’ signature.
Record understand that Arsenal are “the most likely to take the step forward”, however, it has been reported elsewhere that they have been hotly pursuing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
As for United, it was reported by ESPN yesterday that some outgoing transfers will be needed before they can commit to a third arrival – given that they have already signed Matheus Cunha and have started negotiating with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo.
Nonetheless, Gyokeres’ firm stance and any movement from Arsenal or indeed any other club could leave INEOS no choice but to strike and use Ruben Amorim’s relationship with the Swede to help tip the balance in their favour, even without having Champions League football to offer.
Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images
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Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
