Viktor Gyokeres Transfer Saga
This summary gives a synopsis of the transfer on which Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting Club and Arsenal are still talking, according to El Futbolero and David Nova in Portugal.
Key Developments & Player Stance
Viktor Gyokeres has informed Sporting he will not turn up for the training session they planned, in the expectation that the player would be there today or tomorrow. He is being advised to do this by his agents and is making a point to try and force a transfer. Nova says, “he was due back to train today at Sporting Club in Portugal… no Gokas today and not going to be no sign of any sign of him tomorrow.”Several sources described Gyokeres’ priority as one to join Arsenal and appear in the Premier League and the Champions League. “Goku, he just wants Arsenal, that’s his dream team to play for, for Arsenal, for a Premier League club to play Champions League,” Nova states. He is willing to “push until the limit” to get this move.
Financial Discrepancy & Club Positions
At the heart of the dispute is a €5 million valuation gap.
Sporting’s asking price: €80 million in total (€70 million fixed + €10 million in variables). Per Nova Sport of Sky Sport: “Sporting wants 80 million once at transfer with up to 10 million in add-ons, so 80 million euros should be enough to close the deal.”
Arsenal’s bid: €80m in total (€65m guaranteed + €15m in add-ons). Nova states, “Arsenal was willing to pay 65 more 15.”
“(Sporting) is not happy with this situation, not the player because the player, everyone knows he wants to leave, but with the way the player is behaving, the way the agents are behaving.” In Portugal, however, there is a note of questioning over the approach of Gyokeres: “what the player is expecting by not even showing up if he’s expecting the the the sporting to to agree the the deal I don’t think that things are going to do to be done that that way.”
The idea that Arsenal are hesitant to make up the €5 million difference is confusing Portugal, as Nova explained, “the thing he he is in here in Portugal we asking the same thing is why not why is Arsenal not simply offering plus simply 5 million euros is not a big thing in in football.”
Potential Consequences & Alternative Options
Sporting CP may take disciplinary action themselves, which could result in fines for Gyokeres after he failed to return for training. Nova writes, “naw, of course, maybe he can get a fine, some disciplinary punishment.”
Gyokeres, however, has his mind on Arsenal in the immediate term as he accepts the deal could fall through. Gyokeres has already turned down Manchester United three times this window because of their lack of Champions League football if the Arsenal transfer fails. ”’Gokesh has rejected United three times … he wants to play Champions League football, that’s that’s the thing, and United is not in the Champions League, Nova says. However, their stance could change if the transfer window is coming to an end and Fernandes is still there at Sporting, especially if he is keen to make the step up to the Premier League.
Arsenal have alternate targets to attack, such as Benjamin Sesko, it is understood. This indicates that Arsenal ccouldose theirpatience, and if this saga drags on any further, they may “just get sick of this and go for someone else”.
The next days are going to be “really tense” and the current situation might turn into “interesting days in the in the next weeks” or even “until the the transfer window close. It’s same old for me, Pandit’s “patience (which) Arsenal will have to wait for the player”.
