Viktor Gyokeres is said to feel 'disrespected' by Sporting Clube de Portugal following a dispute over his price tag amid interest from Manchester United.
This week, the Manchester Evening News reported that Sporting had increased his transfer value from £50million to £67.7m. According to Portuguese newspaper Record, the club’s decision left Gyokeres 'angered.'
Meanwhile, Portuguese newspaper A Bola added that the Swede has made it clear he intends to leave Estadio Jose Alvalade this summer. Despite reportedly receiving more lucrative offers last summer, Gyokeres opted to stay in Lisbon.
Now, at 27, he is said to feel the time is right to take the next step in his career. However, it appears that Sporting are holding out for a higher fee than initially agreed.
According to Wednesday’s edition of Record, the agreement was reached back in September following Sporting’s Champions League match against Lille, during a meeting at the club’s training centre attended by then-sporting director Hugo Viana and president Frederico Varandas.
The terms reportedly included a €500,000 bonus if Gyokeres reached 50 combined goals and assists - a milestone he achieved. This was reportedly later confirmed by the former sporting director through both written and audio messages sent to his agent, Hasan Centikaya.
With United, Arsenal, Juventus, and Al Hilal among the interested clubs, Sporting are now said to be demanding €80million (£67.7million) to let go of the striker this summer. This is more than the reported agreed fee of €60m (£50m) plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons.
While Sporting are yet to make an official statement on the situation, Record highlights that 'at no time' did the president 'define a specific value.' Instead, it's reported that Gyokeres was only given the guarantee that he would be allowed to leave the club below his clause of €100m (£84m).
As a result, Gyokeres has taken 'Sporting' out of his Instagram profile. Previously, he had all references to Sporting and Sweden on his Instagram bio. Now, it merely states that he is a 'Sportsperson'.
Furthermore, the Swede has threatened to 'slam the door' and 'not return' to Alvalade if the promise made in September is not fulfilled. Gyokeres reportedly feels 'disrespected' by Varandas, especially since he believes he gave everything to Sporting over the past two seasons, even playing when he wasn’t fully fit.
Record also reports that, if necessary, the 27-year-old is willing to cut short his holidays in Sweden to speak out on the situation. However, for now, he reputedly prefers not to do so out of respect for the fans, with whom he has built a special bond over the past two years.
The Reds have been linked with a move for the Sweden international since Ruben Amorim’s arrival at the club. The Manchester Evening News understands he is among the names on the wishlist to strengthen their attacking options this summer.
It is claimed that United have contacted the player's intermediaries to discuss the finances associated with a deal for the 27-year-old.
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