Man United transfer news: Sporting president issues key Viktor Gyokeres update as speculation continues

Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas has insisted that Viktor Gyokeres will not be allowed to leave the club for €70m (£59m) during this summer's transfer window.

There is currently widespread speculation surrounding the Sweden international's future, with Manchester United seemingly in pole position to sign him ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

However, there have been contrasting reports over how much Sporting want for the forward, who has a €100m (£85m) release clause in his current agreement.

Varandas has denied that a gentleman's agreement exists which would allow Gyokeres to leave the Lisbon club for a fee in the region of €70m (£59m) during the summer market.

The Sporting president has also insisted that the club are yet to receive an offer for the 27-year-old, who scored 54 times in 52 appearances for his Portuguese club during the 2024-25 campaign.

Sporting president: 'Gyokeres not available for £59m'

"I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for €60m (£51m) plus €10m (£8.5m) because I never promised that," said Varandas. "To this day, Sporting has not received an offer for Gyokeres - neither today nor last summer.

"What was agreed in that meeting? That Sporting would not demand the release clause [this summer]. For one reason, it was because we know no player leaves Portugal at 27 for €100m (£85m) or €90m (£76m).

"In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: 'It's not worth us setting a value because I don't know what will happen in a year's time. I don't know if it will be €40m (£34m), €60m (£51m) or €80m (£68m). What I can guarantee is that I will not demand €100m (£85m)."

Gyokeres is allegedly incredibly unhappy with Sporting's stance and is believed to have told the club that he is prepared to go on strike in a bid to force an exit this summer.

Will Gyokeres leave Sporting this summer?

The situation is untidy, and it is seemingly far from being resolved, but it would be a huge shock if Gyokeres did not leave Sporting during this summer's transfer window.

Arsenal have previously been heavily linked with the Swede, but Man United look to be in pole position at this stage of proceedings, and it would not be a surprise to see him leading the English club's line next term.

Sporting are set to make an incredible profit on Gyokeres, having paid £20m to sign him from Coventry City, but they will be losing a player who has scored a stunning 97 goals in 102 appearances for the club.

Written by
Matt Law