Good Morning!
Friday’s edition of The Daily Viktor Gyökeres perhaps should have been one regarding what time he’d be arriving at Humberto Delgado Airport, waving goodbye to adoring Sporting CP supporting ground crew, and setting offer for his new life at Arsenal.
That certainly felt like it could be the outcome at the beginning of this week, after Arsenal presented a new offer, albeit informally. The Gunners have been willing to pay €65m plus a further €15m in bonus payments, but Sporting are holding out for €70m plus €10m.
And not a lot has happened since then.
The striker had been due to return to Sporting training today, after his return was delayed twice to allow more time for a transfer to be agreed, however, Record report Sporting have ruined the Friday popcorn-moment for us all and moved that date to tomorrow. He’s now got the same return date as Conrad Harder and Geovany Quenda, who were away at the Euro U21 tournament this summer.
Gyökeres is still in Stockholm and it’s not thought he intends to show up. Should that be the case then Sporting will move to considering a disciplinary process and potential punishment.
Record has a separate article on the player which says he’s now rejected Manchester United approaches multiple times. The Portuguese newspaper states, according to their own information: ‘His representatives have already rejected three different approaches made by former Lions’ manager Ruben Amorim, who, it’s worth remembering, won’t be playing in the Champions League next season. Only Arsenal interests him…’
That information is likely coming from the player’s camp and whilst the intention will be to pressure Sporting and tell them there’s no chance of a bidding war, it feels an unnecessary grenade to throw. It could easily be seen as disrespectful regardless of whether it’s true or not.
Over at O Jogo, it’s reported the striker isn’t bothered about potential sanctions from Sporting because he’s convinced an agreement will be found with Arsenal anyway.
Arsenal are said to have shown no intention of improving their offer, and are playing a game of patience with Sporting.
A Bola report Gyökeres has no intention of turning up on Saturday, and only a ‘last minute change of heart’ could make him do so.
The newspaper adds: ‘The Gunners are now doing the math, devising a strategy to get back on track and secure the signing.’
