Arsenal’s deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres could be at risk as Sporting CP have threatened to increase the striker’s asking price.
Earlier this week, Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, hit out at Gyokeres’ agent over suggestions that a transfer fee had already been agreed ahead of the summer transfer window.
Gyokeres has a €100 million (£85.1m) release clause in his contract but Sporting have been willing to sell the Sweden international for lower than that amount.
Varandas was angered by claims that Sporting have agreed to sell Gyokeres for €60m (£51m) plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons and warned the striker’s representative, Hasan Cetinkaya, that he is ‘making the situation worse’.
During his negotiations to bring Gyokeres to Sporting in a £20m deal from Coventry City two years ago, Cetinkaya secured an exclusive sales mandate which means that the Portuguese champions will have to pay the agent 10 per cent of the value of any rejected offer above €60m (£51m).
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It is understood that if Cetinkaya decides to activate that mandate this summer, Sporting will respond by demanding that Gyokeres’ €100m (£85.1m) release clause is paid in full.
Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, met with his counterpart at Sporting, Bernardo Palmeiro, in Menorca to discuss a deal for Gyokeres this week.
Arsenal’s initial proposal worth an €55m (£46.8m) plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons was rejected but an improved offer is expected.
Sporting are believed to be holding out for a deal worth closer to €80m (£68.1m) including add-ons.
Reports in Portugal on Thursday claimed that there is a ‘growing optimism’ in Gyokeres’ camp that a deal can be agreed between Arsenal and Sporting.
Manchester United also remain in the race to sign Gyokeres and are hoping his strong relationship with Ruben Amorim can overcome the striker’s reservations about the lack of European football at Old Trafford next season.
United have indicated to Sporting that they are willing to pay €60m (£51.1m) up front, plus a further €10m (£8.5m) in performance-related bonuses.
Gyokeres, who finished the season with 54 goals in 52 games and helped Sporting win the domestic double in Portugal, issued a cryptic message on Instagram on Thursday which read: ‘There is a lot of talks at the moment, most of it is false. I will speak when the time is right.’
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