Sporting president speaks out on Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres’ huge price tag

Viktor Gyokeres has a huge release clause of €100m (£85m) and Sporting president Frederico Varandas does not sound inclined to let him leave for any less than that.

The 26-year-old has been sensational for Sporting since joining from Coventry in 2023, scoring 50 goals in 55 games in all competitions.

He has started the current campaign in absurdly good form, netting seven times in four Primeira Liga matches and then scoring three in two for Sweden over the international break.

Gyokeres was heavily linked with Arsenal over the summer transfer window, while he has also been touted as a possible signing for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but nothing came of it and Varandas says he is very happy the forward has remained where he is.

‘A €100 million clause and whether it can be met depends on the player’s current situation, age, and whether there is more than one club in the running,’ the president said, via Record. ‘I’ve seen inferior players being transferred for over€100m, great players for under €100m.

‘Sporting is happy to have Viktor and he is happy here. During the transfer market, there wasn’t a day without news saying that Viktor was leaving.

‘The transfer market closed and these questions continue. But hey, we live with it and that’s how it will be.

‘We have a strong team, Viktor knows that he is well supported by two stars like Pote (Pedro Gonçalves) and (Francisco) Trincão. Sporting has a highly valued group today.

‘I don’t remember having such a valuable squad, in terms of assets. Now, if we are going to surpass our rivals, it will be on the pitch.’

Gyokeres spoke out about his lack of a move during the transfer window himself, suggesting he had been priced out of a switch, but he is happy at Sporting anyway.

‘They (Sporting) wanted most of the starting players to stay and held us tight,’ Gyokeres told Sport Bladet. ‘That’s how it turned out, but I enjoy Sporting very much, so for me it was no problem to stay.

‘It (release clause) was probably a bit too much because nothing came of it. Of course it’s a lot of money. But we’ll see what happens next window.

‘Nothing happened and it feels like I had a pretty good season. So yes, that’s probably why there was simply no move. But that’s what Sporting thinks I’m worth, and then you have to respect that.

‘I enjoy myself very much in Sporting and can’t complain about anything, so it’s absolutely no problem for me to stay. Of course, you aim to test other leagues and a higher level, but I have no stress.’

The Swede’s contract at Sporting runs until 2028.

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