Last Friday, Correio da Manhã reported Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres has one goal in mind and that’s to join Arsenal this summer. They also reported he’s not willing to return for pre-season, which started on Monday.
A day later, O Jogo reported the Lions had given permission to the striker to rejoin the group on July 7th.
A Bola states Arsenal could try and agree a fee for the 27-year-old before then, to save him having to show his face in Lisbon, but if they don’t he will start pre-season at Sporting.
Gyökeres reportedly threatened not to return for training if Sporting president Frederico Varandas refused to lower his €80m demand. A Bola states the Lisbon club are now ‘certain’ the Sweden international will join the group if an agreement isn’t reached for his transfer.
Arsenal have indicated their willingness to offer €55m plus €10m and raise the fixed part to €60m. This hasn’t been entertained by the Portuguese champions, who are requesting €80m.
Gyökeres and his agent, Hasan Çetinkaya, insist that Sporting have promised to release him for €60m plus €10m. Varandas has already denied that and said the club has only agreed to sell him for less than his €100m release clause.