All the signs were that top scorer Viktor Gyökeres was well on the way to signing for Arsenal after finishing the 2024/25 season with the Liga Portugal title, guaranteeing his farewell to Sporting in the best possible way. However, the Swede is running into a major setback that has left him very angry in recent days.
The latest reports from Portugal indicate that Gyökeres had received the board's word of confidence that the 100 million euro contract clause would not prevent him from leaving in the current transfer window. In other words, any club willing to pay 60 million euros would be the Swedish striker's new destination.
That was the promise that Arsenal and other teams interested in signing Gyökeres heard all season, but just when the deal was about to be signed, Sporting's president decided not to keep his word. Frederico Varandas is reportedly adamant that he will negotiate the striker for 60 million euros and is demanding much more, changing his mind about what was agreed months ago.
Sporting increased Gyökeres' value by 20 million euros
It's worth noting that Sporting had promised to facilitate Gyökeres' transfer if the top scorer stayed for another season in June last year, and everything was going very well to fulfill that promise. Now, the Portuguese club is demanding at least 80 million euros, a figure that could put off interest from many Premier League teams and especially Arsenal, clubs that could start looking for other reinforcements.
Gyökeres arrived at Sporting in the 2023/24 season and made an impact with 43 goals and 15 assists in 50 games. The previous season, the striker was even better with 54 goals in 52 games, as well as 13 assists, and was instrumental in the Portuguese League and Portuguese Cup titles.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona are the teams still interested, and the striker has never expressed his desire to prioritize the Premier League. But, given this scenario, his transfer has become a huge doubt.