The transfer saga of Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal is set to roll on into August following a fresh dispute with Sporting CP.
The Sporting News previously confirmed the striker was holding off on returning to the club’s Cristiano Ronaldo Academy for preseason training amid ongoing transfer interest from the Gunners.
The 27-year-old was due to join up with his teammates on July 7, as Sporting’s international players returned from their summer break, with initial tests planned for the squad.
However, Gyokeres was granted permission to skip those sessions, with the request he travel directly to the club’s preseason camp in the Algarve on July 12.
That deadline has now been missed – which Sporting CP expected to be the case – as he attempts to put pressure on the Portuguese giants to accept Arsenal’s latest transfer offer.
The two clubs remain at a stand-off in negotiations, with Sporting CP demanding €80m [£68m / $87m] in total, but Arsenal’s current offer is worth €65m [£55m / $71m] up front, with an additional €15m [£13m / $16m] in performance-based bonuses.
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That gap in expectations remains the root cause of a transfer block, and Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has called out Gyokeres’ attitude, with a deal no closer to completion.
Sporting CP president hits out at Gyokeres over Arsenal move
Gyokeres and his representatives have informed Sporting CP of his desire to join Arsenal, with the striker willing to reduce his wage demands at the Emirates Stadium, to enable Arsenal to get closer to an agreed fee.
However, Varandas insists there will be no change from his side, and claimed Gyokeres is in breach of his present contract.
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“No one is above the interests of the club. We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the transfer, a hefty fine and an apology to the group,” as per quotes from BBC Sport.
“If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’re very comfortable with that for the next three years.
“If the geniuses devising this strategy think this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave.”
Alongside his criticism of Arsenal’s approach, Varandas again rejected rumours of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ being in place for a €70m [£60m / $82m] sale but they will not push for his full €100m [£86m / $117m] clause.
Mikel Arteta believes Gyokeres is the ideal candidate to solve Arsenal’s striker issue, with the former Coventry City forward racking up an incredible tally of 97 goals in 102 matches in two seasons in Portugal, firing Sporting CP to two league titles in the process.
