Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga takes a bizarre twist after ‘fake’ quotes from Sporting Lisbon star’s agent as war of words continues over £84m Man United and Arsenal target

Viktor Gyokeres’ future has taken another turn, with reports claiming the Sporting striker’s agent has responded to the club’s ‘blackmail’ claim.  

The 27-year-old is one of the most in-demand players this summer after scoring a staggering 97 goals in 102 matches for Sporting since joining in the summer of 2023.

Gyokeres has been heavily linked with Arsenal and Manchester United as well as Juventus – but it is the former who have reportedly taken a step forward in the race to sign him.

The Sweden international has an £84million release clause in his Sporting contract, but prior to the campaign just gone, he was understood to have reached a gentleman’s agreement with the Portuguese champions over a reduced asking price.

Following positive discussions regarding his sale, he was assured he would be able to leave this summer if a club met £51m, plus £8m in add-ons.

However, it has been reported by Portuguese outlet Record, that Sporting’s board have made a U-turn and are now seeking a fee in the region of £67m, which is said to have infuriated Gyokeres to the point of threatening to strike.

On Wednesday the Sporting president Frederico Varandas claimed: ‘Blackmail and insults don’t work with me’.

Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has now weighed in on the saga. Reportedly speaking to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, he claims to have proof of an agreement with Sporting that would allow the striker to leave this summer for £59m. 

The striker is understood to be ‘furious’ with president Varandas, after discovering the news and has now told the club’s bosses that he will never pull the Sporting shirt on again.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it false. I will speak when the time is right.’

However, Varandas has not taken to the threats kindly. The president has hit back with some fire of his own as he insists that he will not be held to ransom by Gyokeres.

‘One thing you should already know is me better,’ Varandes claimed as per Record. ‘Threats, blackmail and insults don’t work with me.

‘I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m+10m (£51m+£8.5m) because I never promised him that.

‘This game that the agent is playing only makes the situation worse. To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Viktor Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.’

With rumours swirling of the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between Gyokeres and the club, Vardanas wants clarify what really went on in the meeting between the club and the player’s agent last summer.

While the president has admitted that there was an agreement in regards to the release clause not needing to be met, but the fee they would indeed request was never agreed.

‘It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the following season, especially because he was going to be 27,’ added Vardanas. ‘Then, we knew Viktor’s dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense.

‘We guaranteed that we would not demand 100 million. In that meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the departure to a value, he spoke of 60 million, 70 million… And I said “there’s no point in setting a value” because I don’t know what will happen here in a year, if he gets injured, if he has a disappointing season… There’s no point in setting a value, I don’t know if it will be 40, 60 or 80. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million.

‘From then on, I never spoke to the agent again, I never spoke to the player about departures and values. 10 months have passed and I see the agent in the press spouting information here and there, but Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word.

‘The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor’s performance, he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal.’

Gyokeres has removed any reference to Sporting on his Instagram account, having also got rid of any mention of Sweden and Nike.