Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea may have to pay a staggering amount if they want to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Sporting are hoping to tie Gyokeres to a new contract which will include an increased release clause, according to Record. The Portuguese side want to renew their forward’s existing deal and include a clause set at €120 million (£103m/$130m) in a bid to ward off potential interest in the 25-year-old freescoring forward.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea and Arsenal have both been linked with a move for Gyokeres in a bid to strengthen their attack after seeing the Swede score 22 goals and grab 10 assists in the Portuguese top flight so far this season. Sporting are eager to keep hold of their prolific frontman but have targeted Greek forward Fotis Ioannidis from Panathinaikos as a potential replacement.
WHAT GYOKERES HAS SAID
The striker has spoken about speculation over his future during the current international break. He told Fotbollskanalen this week: “It’s a sign that I’ve performed well. But it’s not something I take too seriously, since it’s just speculation. But of course it’s fun. We’ll see this summer. It’s not something I know about myself, what will happen. I enjoy Sporting extremely well and feel no stress about the summer coming quickly.”
WHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES
Gyokeres will continue the season with Sporting and will hope to fire his team to the title. Sporting are currently one point clear at the top of the table and have a game in hand over second-placed Benfica. It remains to be seen what will happen in the summer transfer window, but Gyokeres is unlikely to be short of admirers if he can maintain the goalscoring form he’s shown so far this season.
