Gyokeres to Arsenal: Club president makes exciting announcement

Tom Weber

• Updated: 21 Oct 2024 14:39 BST
• 3 min read

Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has admitted that it is not impossible that Viktor Gyokeres will be sold in January.

The Swedish sharpshooter is once more in outstanding form. After hitting 43 goals and 15 assists last season, Gyokeres is already up to 12 goals and four assists in 12 appearances this term.

Though the 26-year-old recently came under a bit of fire in Portuguese media due to being recorded smoking a hookah, it has evidently done little to halt his insane form and attacking output.

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On Friday, Gyokeres provided an assist in a 26-minute cameo in a Portuguese cup victory over Portimonense and speculation surrounding his future continues to abound, with Arsenal, as always, heavily linked with the Swede.

Now, Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has addressed the persistent rumours and rated the chances of a January departure.

Sporting president on Gyokeres

Speaking to RTP3, Varandas talked about in-demand coach Ruben Amorim and Gyokeres, insisting that Sporting are a much more attractive club than those outside Portugal may be inclined to believe and that a January sale of the star striker would be complicated but not impossible.

“One of the wonderful things about being a fan and a member is being able to enjoy the present. I don’t enjoy the present, my role as president is to live in the future, to be prepared for, if this or that player leaves, who will come in?

"I heard these questions about Ruben leaving four years ago, which is something that should make all Sporting fans proud and make the media ask: how is it that one of the best coaches in the world has been at Sporting for five years? That’s what’s fantastic.”

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Quizzed about Gyokeres and a winter move, the president responded: “I would say it is very, very, very difficult. There are no impossible things in life, but I would say it is really very difficult.

"He has scored many goals and continues to score, but, with all due respect, it will be very difficult to leave in January.” Gyokeres boasts a €100 million release clause, which is the biggest hurdle for any potential suitor.