Sporting will not demand full €100m release clause for Gyokeres – Soccer News

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Sporting CP will allow reported Manchester United and Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres to leave for a fee lower than his €100m release clause.

However, the Primeira Liga champions’ president, Frederico Varandas, does intend to remain firm in his valuation of the in-demand striker.

Gyokeres has been tipped to return to England ahead of the 2025-26 season, having enjoyed two spectacular campaigns in Portugal since leaving Coventry City in 2023.

The Sweden international plundered 39 goals in 33 Primeira Liga appearances last campaign as Sporting won their 21st top-flight title, despite losing coach Ruben Amorim to United last November.

Gyokeres has a €100m release clause in his contract, but reports have suggested Arsenal are willing to offer around €70m for him.

Speaking to A Bola, Varandas suggested for the first time that a cut-price deal may be possible, saying: “Sporting is calm regarding this matter. Sporting does not need to sell Viktor Gyokeres.

“Fortunately, we have moved past the phase of selling our main assets. However, we remain sensitive to Viktor’s dreams or those of any other player.

“Sporting has made a commitment that, after weeks of meetings, we will not demand the full amount of the clause; we will be reasonable regarding the amount requested for Viktor.

“Today, there is a strong likelihood that he will leave. I won’t disclose the amount, but the player knows what it is.”

Gyokeres has scored 68 league goals since the start of 2023-24, the most of any player in Europe’s top 10 leagues (Harry Kane is second with 62).

Those goals have come from chances worth a total of 53.6 expected goals (xG), giving him an overperformance of 14.4.

While Sporting will be flexible regarding Gyokeres’ price, Varandas is keeping a close eye on the valuations of other players to hit the market.

He continued: “In the last few weeks, we have seen that a player like [Martin] Zubimendi, who is six months younger than Viktor, is going to Arsenal for €65m.

“I saw two players being sold in the Premier League, Matheus Cunha and [Bryan] Mbeumo, strikers who do not have the quality of Viktor, in my opinion, being sold for around €75m.

“We are talking about players who are 26 years old. So, given the demands we make in relation to Viktor’s value, I believe he can leave, unless he has the worst agent in the world, which I find hard to believe, because he is one of the best football players in the world!”