Arsenal target Gyokeres to be sold? Sporting CP boss makes big admission

Tom Weber

Updated: 17 Aug 2024 05:45 CDT
3 min read

Ruben Amorim has acknowledged that Sporting CP will have to cash in on their star players sooner rather than later.

Article continues under the video

The Portuguese champions boast a host of talented players who are perennially linked with moves to the Premier League and elsewhere. Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio and Viktor Gyokeres are Sporting CP's biggest stars and continue to be the subject of speculation.

The latter, in particular, has aroused attention over the past 12 months with his absurd goalscoring exploits. Gyokeres netted a stunning 43 goals in 50 games last term while also contributing 15 assists. In two games this season, the Swede already has a goal and three assists to his name.

STATS

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

Viktor Gyökeres

F (C)

Sporting CP

50

Games
43

Goals
15

Assists

Unsurprisingly, rumours have abounded regarding his future. Arsenal have been heavily linked and FootballTransfers understands that he is Mikel Arteta's preferred option for the No.9 spot.

Amorim admits Gyokeres could be sold

The problem is that the 26-year-old has a €100 million release clause, which is a fee Arsenal are not prepared to pay. We previously revealed that Sporting would be ready to lower their demands to €70m, but even that is a price the Gunners are reluctant to match.

Nevertheless, they remain in the market for a striker and anything can happen as long as the transfer window is open. Indeed, this is exactly what Sporting boss Ruben Amorim had to acknowledge when quizzed about his striker's future, admitting that Portuguese clubs need to sell to balance the books.

"I've already said: we can't control this. If a player who had a big impact last season leaves, it would mean a lot of money coming in. This is part of the way Portuguese clubs keep their teams competitive. I'm not worried at all."

"We'll see what happens. If they leave, it's a sign that a lot of money is coming in. We already know how to deal with this anxiety. Until the market closes, anything can happen."