‘Gyokeres will not leave Sporting for £59m’

Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas has decisively shut down rumours linking star striker Viktor Gyokeres with a cut-price move away from the club. In a firm statement, he denied the existence of any “gentleman’s agreement” allowing the Swedish international to leave for £59m, adding that the club has not received a single offer for the forward.

Gyokeres, 27, has attracted major interest from Premier League giants such as Manchester United and Arsenal following two prolific seasons in Portugal, where he has scored a remarkable 97 goals in just 102 appearances. His impact on the Portuguese Primeira Liga has been monumental, helping transform Sporting into a dominant attacking force.

Speculation around the striker’s future intensified earlier this summer amid reports that Gyokeres had agreed to a summer exit valued at €70m (£59m). However, Varandas has now categorically rejected those claims, insisting that no such agreement was ever made.

“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m plus €10m because I never promised that,” Varandas stated unequivocally in an interview with Portuguese media. “To this day, Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres—neither today nor last season.”

This strong rebuttal aims to quash rumours suggesting that Sporting would accept anything less than the full €100m (£85m) release clause built into Gyokeres’ contract. The clause, standard practice in Portuguese football, offers the club full protection in the face of intense transfer interest.

The Swedish striker joined Sporting in the summer of 2023 from Coventry City, where he had developed a reputation as one of the Championship’s most feared forwards. His transition to top-flight European football has been seamless, further enhancing his market value.

Interestingly, the president also addressed a key meeting last year between Sporting and Gyokeres’ representatives. At the time, Manchester City’s Hugo Viana was still serving as Sporting’s director of football, and the discussions centered around the club’s stance on the €100m release clause.

“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” Varandas explained. “He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.”

Varandas went on to clarify that the club simply acknowledged that the player was entering an age bracket that typically hinders nine-figure moves out of Portugal. “He was going to be 27 years old, and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for €100m or €90m,” he said.

However, that openness never translated into a fixed transfer price. According to Varandas, the agent pushed for a concrete figure, but Sporting refused to be boxed into a predetermined valuation. “In that same meeting, the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be €40m, €60m or €80m. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100m.’”

That vague commitment has seemingly been misinterpreted as a promise. But Varandas insists Sporting remain in full control and will evaluate any offers solely on their merit and timing—not based on informal discussions or reported media clauses.

Gyokeres, who also boasts 15 goals in 26 appearances for Sweden, is considered one of Europe’s most in-form centre-forwards. His strength, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing have drawn comparisons to modern greats. As a result, Sporting are under no pressure to sell unless a club is willing to meet their expectations.

Manchester United, in particular, are desperate for a reliable goalscorer to partner or rotate with Rasmus Højlund, while Arsenal are still in the market for a natural number nine to complement their attacking options. But both clubs may now have to look elsewhere—or prepare to pay close to the full €100m.

The statement from Varandas also seems like a strategic move to maintain negotiating leverage. With several top European clubs circling, setting the record straight ensures Sporting won’t be lowballed into accepting less than the player’s market worth.

The Portuguese club has developed a reputation in recent years for nurturing and selling elite talent—examples include Bruno Fernandes, João Palhinha, and Matheus Nunes. But they have also become more assertive in demanding full value for their assets.

As the summer transfer window unfolds, the focus will now shift to whether any club is bold enough to test Sporting’s resolve with a formal bid. Until then, Gyokeres remains a central figure in Sporting’s ambitions to dominate both domestically and in European competition.

Varandas’ message is clear: if anyone wants Viktor Gyokeres, they must pay a premium. The era of unspoken exit deals appears to be over at Sporting. For now, Gyokeres is staying put—and doing what he does best: scoring goals.

Whether Arsenal or Manchester United will return with an irresistible offer remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Sporting have drawn a clear line in the sand. And crossing it will come at a cost.