Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly fuming with Sporting Lisbon for holding up his departure from the club this summer.
The Swedish striker is one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe after flourishing in Portugal over the past two seasons, and had expected to get a transfer to the Premier League.
Gyokeres prefers a move to Arsenal over Manchester United, but his price-tag has become a major stumbling block for any deal.
It is understood that Gyokeres believes he reached a gentleman’s agreement with Sporting last summer that would see the club accept a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) including add-ons at the end of the season.
However, Sporting are now trying to hold out for a significantly higher fee – with Gyokeres having a €100m (£84m) release clause in his contract, and club president Frederico Varandas has accused Gyokeres’ team of trying to ‘blackmail’ the Portuguese giants.
Gyokeres has reportedly threatened to go on strike after vowing to ‘speak at the right time’, and, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, he is ‘very upset’ with Sporting’s current stance and has made his feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy.
Viktor Gyokeres is reportedly furious with Sporting Lisbon’s stance over his potential exit
The Swedish striker is keen on a move to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal this summer
Sporting president Frederico Varandas has stated the club will not be ‘blackmailed’ into accepting a fee below their asking price for Gyokeres
Their report claims five clubs are interested in signing Gyokeres, with Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli joining Arsenal and United in monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation.
Gyokeres would also welcome interest from Manchester City and Liverpool, while he is open to a move to Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG or Bayern Munich.
But Sporting are adamant that they won’t let their star striker leave for a fee that falls below their asking price.
Varandas claimed last week that Sporting will not demand £84m for Gyokeres, but also stated that allowing the forward to depart for £60m is also off the table as a war of words broke out.
‘Sporting will not demand the release clause, but they should know me better by now,’ Varandas said. ‘Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me.
‘I can guarantee one thing: Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m + €10m. He won’t leave because I never allowed it, and the game his agent is playing will only make the situation worse.’
Varandas has denied a gentleman’s agreement was ever in place as the transfer saga continues to turn ugly.
Gyokeres helped Sporting win a domestic double last season but things are now turning ugly
He appeared to wave goodbye to fans after Sporting’s last game, but is still yet to secure a transfer away from the club
Gyokeres may now be concerned that he could miss out on a move to Arsenal, with the Gunners also closely tracking several other options to bolster their frontline.
The north London club have shown interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, while Alexander Isak, Julian Alvarez and Ollie Watkins are also believed to be on their radar as potential alternatives.
But Gyokeres could be the standout candidate to fill the No 9 role after scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting.
His goals secured a domestic double for the club last term, and Arsenal may view him as the missing piece of the jigsaw as they look to end their trophy drought under Mikel Arteta next season.
